State of Union 2014 - Book Report/Review Example

Insert Introduction The of the Union Address was given on January 28, in the chamber of the US House of Representatives by President Barrack Obama, as the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner. There are several topics that President Obama addressed, ranging from the economy, the enactment of immigration reforms, improving education, creating a more intelligent and effective approaches to national security, particularly in the War on Terror and the war in Afghanistan and the need to move the US off a continuous war footing.

From a personal standpoint, the three most impressive of the topics were the economy, the War on Terror and the enactment of immigration reform. On matters economy, President Obama pointed out that America is experiencing the lowest rate of employment in five years, a resurging housing market and a manufacturing sector that is not only rebounding, but is also helping create jobs for the first time. President Obama also promised to adjust the minimum wage upwards to 10.10 for all federal contractors and to partner with private developers and Congress, to increase the minimum wage nationally.

I totally agree with President Obama on the foregoing. Contrary to critics’ standpoint, respected economist, Zanny Minton Beddoes elaborated in The Economist that the US economy is recovering; and that more rapidly. The GDP and the housing sales grew by approximately 3.5% by the end of 2013. Most economists are categorical that this is the right amount of a healthy economy, since it is neither too fast nor too slow. I also strongly agree with Obama that women should be extended equal pay and fair labor treatment, without having to pay unfairly for their pregnancies (PBS News, min 40-52).

As touching the War on Terror and the War in Afghanistan the US President called for the need to embrace and enforce more intelligent and effective security approaches. I could not agree more with President Obama’s call for a better approach to the War on Terror, since he gave a strong premise for his proposal: that terrorism is fast evolving and the War on Terror cannot be waged as it was, in 2012. However, my agreement with the President that the US should move off from a permanent war footing is only conditional.

If by this, the President means that the War on Terror [and the war’s vestiges and tools such as drones, surveillance and the metadata program] should only be reformed and not stopped, then I agree with him. Terrorism is a threat with ideological underpinnings and the US cannot slacken in the War on Terror. Concerning the immigration reforms, I am in solidarity with President Obama that there should be an effective securing of the US borders and then ensuring that America attracts the best, most intelligent and hardworking immigrants from the world.

In this light, the President is not only acknowledging the reality of globalization and the futility of trying to entrench geopolitical cocoons, but he is also cognizant of the need to turn the tide of immigration to the advantage of the US. This is reality and ingenuity put together, for the betterment of the US’ welfare, growth and prosperity. Works CitedPBS News. “State of the Union 2014: PBS News Special with Mark Shields and David Brooks.” PBS News. Retrieved on February 3, 2014; from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

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