Kansas City Star: Obama’s speech hit all the right points

now go back to Washington and sign a couple of new 'free trade agreements'..

I don't like the course of the world economy over the last 3 decades, so I'm just going to stick my head in the sand and avoid 7 decades of Democratic policy towards trade. Those three deals are pittance compared to what we do with China and India. Isolationism and mercantilism is a DOA policy in Washington and on Main Street. We need trade reform, not trade cessation.

There is no backwards on trade liberalization, only forward and so we have to figure out how to make it work for America and its allies

the labor party is dead, fuck it, we should just deal with no employment and act like we like it. Where is our party's balls? In the pocket of wall street, just like the rethugs. It'll be OK..soon we'll all be on the same level as the rest of the 3rd world. Our President or other elected has no obligation to fix the economy of every regressive, authoritarian, corrupt 3rd world economy on the planet..they are very busy working for wall street however. If O really cared about, “This is the defining issue of our time,” Obama said, referring to income inequality. “At stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home and secure their retirement.”, he would concentrate on making a requirement for trade with the US to hinge on moving toward standard of living parity..but no, that would defeat the purpose for wall street..cheap labor, economic inequality is the foundation of 'free trade'. I get that you like it, you're a free trade believer, the vast majority of the 99% are not. The first candidate who reasonably proposes actually effecting the plan will be elected regardless of party, then will be promptly executed by your 'free trade' friends. It is your willingness to accept the position of Wall Street which feeds income inequality.

...than to rebuild a productive future. The rabbit is definitely out of the hat on this one. We need to be increasing American exports and internationalizing our education system rather than fighting the inevitable on the trade policy issue - "winning the future"

You sir, are a pessimist.

Without judging each one on its merits, and without understanding them.

Just a short cut for the lazy brain.

It is the unbelievable position of our party that we should send our jobs to 3rd world countries with no intention of improving the quality of life of their workers, and Democratic policy of encouraging same, all the while stating stupid shit like, “This is the defining issue of our time,” Obama said, referring to income inequality. “At stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home and secure their retirement.”

edit, oh, and I love this, "build a modest savings"..modest...nice..

It is not.

Our party wants good jobs here, it does not believe we should send our jobs to 3rd world countries.

The sole reason for this transfer of jobs is cheaper prices due to cheaper labor. It is up to us all as consumers to decide higher prices and employed Americans are better than cheaper prices.