President Obama’s Address to the Nation – November 3, 2010

[Scuba]

To Americans everywhere, I express my extreme gratitude for your support yesterday, election day, 2010. Not only did Democrats not suffer the loss of seats, we actually gained seats, enough to have filibuster-proof majorities in both houses of Congress.

With these majorities we can pursue the policies that will help all Americans, not just those few wealthiest Americans who have tried to buy our government.

Therefore, I’m announcing today new direction for America, including:

Within 10 days I want Congress to pass new tax laws that spread the tax burden fairly across the economic spectrum, with those benefiting most from our society contributing commensurately.

Within 20 days I want Congress to pass laws that protect the right of workers to organize and have a voice in the operation of US businesses. This will include raising the minimum wage to $20.00 per hour to ensure a reasonable standard of living for all working families.

Within 30 days, all US military, diplomatic and contracted personnel will return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of the hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of lives being wasted on these wars, we will instead provide aid to these countries, and to other depressed areas where atrocious conditions breed terrorists.

Additionally, I am ordering the Department of Justice to investigate those who led us into these wars to determine if war crime charges are warranted. If so they will be prosecuted with vigor and any ill-gained profits shall be returned to the people.

Within 40 days I want Congress to pass a simple plan to provide Medicare for All so no American is denied care or has to suffer financial hardship because of health problems, and no American businesses are saddled with health costs that keep them from competing fairly with foreign competitors. This plan will include a “safety net” to guarantee every citizen is provided the food and shelter necessary to survive difficult challenges in their lives.

Within 60 days I want the Commerce Department to present a plan for maintaining and improving the infrastructure of our great country.

Within 80 days I want the Secretary of Education to present new plans to guarantee all Americans have access to our public schools, from pre-kindergarten through advanced degrees.

Within 120 days I want Homeland Security to present a new plan for securing our borders from those who would do us harm while allowing appropriate travel and visitation to our many friends around the world. This plan is to include a path to citizenship for those who serve in the US military, or who came here as children and are now productive members of our society.

Within 150 days I want a Constitutional Amendment passed limiting political spending by corporations or any other entity or individual not qualifying as a person with citizenship in this great country.

Within 180 days I want the Department of Energy to begin another “Manhattan Project” to enable us to cease our dependence on fossil fuels. As this effort will no doubt take time, I am announcing the nationalization of all US oil and gas reserves, as well as other reserves owned by the citizens of the US that are currently being extracted from our soil for private profit without regard for our environment.

I am also ordering the Department of Justice to begin immediately to root out crimes of corruption within our government. In concert with this, I want Congress to pass term-limit or other laws to ensure elected officials are serving for the benefit of the American people as a whole, not to gain wealth or power for themselves or their friends.

These and other policies we will put in place will cause a sea-change in how our country serves the citizens - We the People - rather than a tiny handful of super-wealthy who would subvert our democracy and plunder our wealth while denying even the most basic services for our citizens. Thank you for your support and thank you for standing up for the rights of all citizens.






I would love to hear such a speech on November 3rd, but it will only be possible if the voters in this country deliver the necessary seats. Please help get out the vote, and any suggestions for the speech are welcomed.

Thank you,

Scuba
Profession Left Whiner

[RZM]

1. I like a lot of this

Which leads me of course to believe that none of it will be said :)

However, two points:

No diplomatic personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan? You don't want the US to have official relations with these countries?

And as far as I know, every American does have access to public schools under federal and state laws, at least from the 1st through the 12th grade. Did you mean access to higher education?

[Scuba]

2. As for your points...

I would return diplomatic personnel to Iraq/Afghanistan when it was safe to do so. I believe things would be better all around if we weren't there and used third parties (UN?) to conduct diplomacy, administrate aid, etc. for the time being.

As for education, I believe you are correct re: K-12 being guaranteed now. I guess I'm both trying to insure that stays in place, and that our schools (and libraries) aren't privatized.

Please vote on Nov 2. The only poll that matters.

[RZM]

3. That would be a little harsh I think

Dismantle a country's government and install a new one, then refuse to have official relations with it because it's not safe due to the conditions caused by the change itself? Wouldn't go over too well in the rest of the world I think. But hey, it's a minor quibble I guess.

I'll be voting for sure.

[Scuba]

6. Excellent point.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. you lost me at " filibuster-proof majorities in both houses of Congress"

You can't filibuster in The House.

[Scuba]

5. My ignorance. What would you call a "super-majority" in the house?

[Motown_Johnny]

7. 50% + 1

[Scuba]

10. Ah yes, the nuances of the rules. I need to better educate myself.

[Radical Activist]

8. We don't need to wait for research to take action on climate change. We already have the technology.

We only need to stop subsidizing coal and start building existing alternatives. Calling for more research is a delaying tactic. And it needs to be at the top of your list, not near the end, if we want to avoid more catastrophic climate disasters. Most of the other things on your list won't matter to someone once half their town has been destroyed and food crops can't be harvested.

Otherwise, nice post.

[Scuba]

9. Excellent input re: energy plan. Thanks for that and your comment.