State  of  the  Union  Address  2015  Reflection      
 
  During  President  Obama’s  sixth  State  of  the  Union  address  to  the  American  public,  he  covered  
numerous  political,  social,  and  economic  issues  that  have  been  resolved  as  well  as  currently  on-­‐
going  in  our  nation.  To  begin  with,  he  seemed  very  proud  in  announcing  that  our  nation  has  been  
doing  quite  well  over  the  years  and  has  been  healing  from  our  economic  hardships,  which  many  
citizens  endured  in  2008.  And  so  he  urged  that  we  could  finally  move  on  to  further  improve  our  
nation  by  “turning  the  page.”  But  in  order  to  do  so,  he  would  need  the  cooperation  of  the  Congress,  
which  is  now  controlled  by  his  opposing  political  party,  the  Republicans.  And  so  he  urged  the  
Congress  the  need  to  enhance  the  life  of  middle  class  families  by  certain  tax  proposals.  Specifically,  
he  wanted  the  average  middle  class  citizen  to  be  able  to  easily  obtain  child  care  benefits,  as  wells  
as  making  two  years  of  community  college  free,  but  students  need  at  least  a  2.5  GPA.  But  in  order  
to  have  funding  for  these  actions,  he  wants  it  to  “be  partially  financed  by  closing  tax  loopholes,”  
which  are  being  caused  by  the  wealthy  class  citizens.  For  instance,  he  wants  to  put  taxes  on  gifted  
assets  from  family  members  and  also  expand  the  amount  of  tax  charged  on  the  top  one  percent  of  
income  earners  who  gain  profit  from  their  investments.  As  for  me,  I  certainly  agree  with  the  
President  when  he  asserts  the  need  for  the  average  middle  class  citizen  to  have  more  benefits  in  
our  society  in  order  to  better  their  standard  of  living,  because  they  too  work  very  hard  day  in  and  
day  out  to  financially  support  their  families,  and  at  the  end  of  the  day,  not  have  so  much  profit  
from  their  income.  Also,  I’m  in  approval  with  the  proposed  two  years  of  free  community  college,  
because  if  this  were  to  be  passed  by  Congress,  there  would  be  a  sudden  motivational  urge  in  our  
citizens  who  can  finally  better  their  lives  by  being  able  to  earn  a  higher  learning  experience,  which  
they  may  not  have  been  able  to  afford  previously.  By  doing  so,  our  economy  may  possibly  benefit  
from  the  availability  of  several  talented  workers  because  we  would  have  more  educated  citizens  
who  have  the  ability  for  new  and  better  innovative  ideas  that  can  ultimately  improve  our  nation.  
And  so,  I  feel  as  if  it  certainly  acceptable  to  increase  certain  taxes  on  the  wealthy  in  order  to  meet  
our  ends.  Furthermore,  the  President  urged  the  Congress  to  pass  a  “resolution  to  authorize  the  use  
of  force  against”  Isis  in  order  to  stop  their  terror  acts  and  prove  to  the  world  that  we  truly  are  
united  as  a  whole  and  fight  for  the  same  reasons.  Moreover,  he  stated  the  need  for  Congress  to  lift  
the  trade  embargo  and  travel  ban  that  was  placed  between  America  and  Cuba,  since  our  relations  
have  gotten  much  better  over  the  years.  But  he  also  threatened  the  Congress  several  times  during  
his  speech  that  he  will  certainly  veto  any  bill  that  Congress  proposed  to  him  that  seem  contrary  to  
his  views  on  “healthcare,  financial  regulation,  and  immigration”  (CBSNews).  In  my  views,  these  
sort  of  “threats”  and  his  arrogant  gesture,  while  bragging  about  how  he  won  two  political  
campaigns,  seemed  to  have  cause  a  backlash  and  much  controversy,  since  this  address  was  meant  
for  cooperation  amongst  the  executive  and  legislative  branches  of  government,  but  it  seemed  as  if  
it  further  soured  their  relations.  I  feel  this  way  because  his  gestures  seemed  very  offensive  at  
times,  when  they  should  have  portrayed  a  sense  of  mutual  understanding.  But  then  again,  the  goal  
of  political  parties  is  to  gain  control  of  public  policies  and  programs.  Furthermore,  apart  from  
what  the  President  needed  from  Congress,  he  had  some  of  his  own  goals  such  as:  introducing  new  
resources  that  support  curing  disease  like  cancer  and  diabetes  with  very  specific  treatments;  
provide  for  a  “free  and  open  internet”  all  across  our  nation;  reforms  on  public  liberties  with  the  
use  of  powerful  surveillance  devices.  Lastly  he  urged  CEOs  of  big  corporations  to  provide  jobs  for  
war  veterans  and  allowing  their  workers  to  “invest  in  their  workforce.”  Also,  he  applauded  those  
who  provide  their  workers  with  aid  for  their  education.  Overall,  I  felt  that  President  Obama  made  
some  good  plans  during  his  State  of  the  Union  address  in  regards  to  helping  the  middle  class  
citizens  further  improve  their  lives  and  trying  to  push  the  idea  of  a  free  community  college.  But  at  
the  same  time,  I  disagree  in  the  way  some  of  his  ideas  were  expressed  to  the  Union  because  some  
came  off  as  very  hostile  and  unfriendly  in  nature,  whereas  they  should  have  convinced  the  Union,  
particularly  the  Congress,  in  lending  him  a  hand  in  achieving  these  goals  for  the  United  States  of  
America.