Joseph Biden gave an energetic and, at times, contentious State of the Union address at a critical point for his administration while simultaneously declaring his reelection campaign and dealing with Republicans controlling one house of Congress. Recent reports have shown near-record-low unemployment and strong job growth, and President Biden has been optimistic about his economic policies. However, his speech demonstrated that he has more ambitious goals for reshaping the economy. Moreover, he defended his economic record against Republican accusations by emphasizing the end of the global epidemic and its positive effects(The White House, 2023). Many people have different opinions on the policies and programs that President Joe Biden discussed on February 7, when he took credit for the country’s economic revival and pushed an agenda of improving the U.S. economy, decreasing crime, reforming police practices, and supporting the Ukrainian military.
Public opinion polls have shown that the economy is the most critical factor in the lives of average Americans. In addition, most of them think that America is still having trouble. If the country is recovering, the people have not noticed it yet. The speech given by Mr. Biden was a high-profile attempt to sway their opinions. Unemployment rates are at historic lows, he said. After 18 months of suffering under the weight of inflation and high energy prices, he claims that his popularity is rising again. As for how his legislative work thus far will benefit the nation’s manufacturing sector, he went into detail. Joe Biden’s plans for the American economy include investing billions in new infrastructure, public transit facilities, homes, and farms and fostering a new clean energy economy. Then he shifted to a theme he would return to often: the need to “complete the job” by passing new laws to stimulate the economy(The White House, 2023). President Biden has long held the view that the economy must be constructed from the ground up and outward through the middle rather than the other way around. I agree with the President that when the middle class thrives, the poor can climb out of poverty, and the wealthy continue to prosper. His proposal to increase economic growth, generate well-paying jobs, and decrease family costs relies heavily on his advocacy for workers, investment in the United States and its people, increased economic competitiveness, and tax code change to reward effort rather than wealth. However, the President could have done a better job of reaching out to Americans still worried about their financial situations and the country’s future by focusing less on his achievements and more on trying to reassure them.
Rather than trying to look forward and present a vision to the People for his reelection, he should have focused more on the current pace of inflation. Furthermore, Biden should avoid giving the impression that he is out of touch with the many people under severe stress due to increasing expenses. He ought to admit that most people are still struggling in this economy. With two-thirds of the workforce out of work and wages continuing to plummet in real terms, it is no surprise that roughly a quarter of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Rising costs are the primary cause of financial hardship in the United States. Inflation is beginning to slow, but at 7% annually, it is still far higher than the Federal Reserve’s objective of 1.5%.
Moreover, The President decried the assassination of Tyre Nichols, the unarmed Black man who was savagely assaulted by Memphis police and killed last month. He reinforced his demands for legislators to confront police reform, adding that ‘something positive must emerge from this.’ Vice President Biden used Wells’s family as an example of how police misconduct affects the loved ones left behind. To prevent future tragedies like the one Tyre Nichols experienced, he advocated for more investment in first responder personnel and enhanced training for law enforcement. Increased policing standards were another topic of Biden’s address. When addressing the issue of mass shootings, Vice President Joe Biden echoed the calls of gun violence prevention groups to ban assault weapons and said that those responsible must be held accountable. Although I agree with Vice President Biden’s comments on gun restriction, I think he could have advocated for even greater action to ensure the general public’s safety.
We wanted to hear Biden call for comprehensive legislation, and we hoped he would discuss the need to end qualified immunity and the creation of a database of police misconduct. He also ought to give the Department of Justice more authority over policy and practice and enact more policies. The President should use the national address to encourage the American people to get more organized to support police reform by speaking directly to them. This is because studies have shown that the amount of violent police contacts may be significantly affected by reduced training for officers and demonstrations against police brutality(Cotton, 2023). the President should have addressed the need for training that helps police officers increase their situational awareness and ability to detect potential threats to avoid a potentially lethal engagement.
President Joseph Biden said the United States is unified behind Ukraine in its resistance to a Russian invasion and would do so “as long as it takes.” Since the outbreak of conflict, the United States has given over $25 billion in security aid, which he praised Congress for providing to the Ukrainian government (Shifrinson, 2023). Vice President Biden expressed hope that U.S. backing will continue indefinitely. The United States is increasingly focusing on providing Ukraine with military and economic help, with total funding has surpassed $100 billion. While sanctions have hurt the Russian economy and done nothing to end the conflict, Biden did not mention them when discussing the help provided this year.
In sum, the President’s proposal to develop an economic platform to strengthen the middle class, expand access to healthcare, increase taxes on the affluent, and spend billions of dollars on green energy infrastructure is sound. I think the United States can once again become the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. This is because the President’s economic agenda prioritizes the construction of new industrial facilities and providing high-quality employment opportunities for those without a college degree. Moreover, the President should have pushed for even more stringent measures to guarantee the public’s safety regarding gun holding. He should also implement new policies and give the Department of Justice greater responsibility over policy and practice. The President should utilize the national address to address the American people directly and urge them to mobilize in favor of police reform. Studies have indicated that decreased training for officers and rallies against police brutality may significantly impact the number of violent police confrontations. As for me, the United States should stay with Ukraine for the duration of its conflict with Russia.
References
Cotton, W. B. (2023). Police training options to reduce violence in police-suspect encounters. Police Use of Force, 85-109. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22705-9_6
Shifrinson, J. R. (2023). The NATO enlargement consensus and U.S. foreign policy: Origins and consequences. Evaluating NATO Enlargement, 97-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23364-7_4
The White House. (2023, February 8). Remarks of president Joe Biden – State of the Union address as prepared for delivery. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery/
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