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State of the Union

President Obama has achieved much, but refuses to rest on his laurels

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In Tuesday’s State of the Union address, a confident President Barack Obama cited the lowest unemployment rate since the 2008 crash, rising consumer confidence, a rapidly-shrinking deficit, and the highest college attendance rates on record as key achievements during his presidency.

The president can, indeed, claim vindication. Many of his proposals faced stiff opposition from Republicans determined to see his presidency fail, which Obama referenced in his remarks on Tuesday.

“At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits,” the president told Congress. “Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health-care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years.”

Considering the country’s dilemma just six years ago, when a financial collapse resulted in double-digit unemployment, it’s a remarkable turnaround.

But rather than resting on his laurels, Obama laid out an ambitious program to help secure the economic future of the country with investments in education and infrastructure.

He’s right to keep the focus on rebuilding the country’s economy. Despite the economic recovery, the middle class is still languishing. The top one percent claimed almost all of the economic gains during the recovery while the other 99 percent still haven’t made back the wealth they lost in the recession.

Obama’s prescription is to provide more breaks for the middle class by providing two years of free community college to help train a skilled workforce, by giving more tax breaks for the middle class and by creating jobs with investments in the country’s infrastructure.

Republicans made it plain with their stoic response to many of the president’s proposals that it will be an uphill battle.

On taxes, Obama wants to close loopholes that allow corporations to garner record profits than bank them overseas to avoid paying taxes on them. Instead, he wants a system that rewards those companies that keep jobs in the United States.

He also wants to increase taxes for the wealthiest two percent of Americans, noting that if Congress truly cares about erasing the deficit, the country can’t afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans. “Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break,” the president said.

As expected, the Republicans trotted out the same arguments, claiming that raising taxes on the wealthy will stifle economic growth and curb investment in America’s future. But supply-side economics has been discredited time and time again. No one invests in new factories or other businesses if consumers don’t have the means to buy what they have to sell. The best way to stimulate the economy is to put more income in the hands of the middle class and the working poor and increase economic opportunities for all, not just the wealthiest. Most Americans agree with that strategy.

Republicans continue to live in a fictional America, refusing to acknowledge the need for innovation and true leadership.

That was made apparent by the Republican response to the State of the Union, delivered by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who touted the Keystone pipeline as the pathway to a stronger economy. By contrast, Obama has pushed for more fuel-efficient vehicles, and wants to see greater investments in cleaner, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. It’s worth noting that President Obama’s insistence on tougher fuel standards is at least partly responsible for the significant drop in oil prices. As efficiency reduces demand, prices fall and Americans are reaping those rewards in higher fuel economy and lower prices at the pump.

To see the country grow and prosper will take cooperation that has been sorely lacking in the past and will be even more difficult with Republicans in control of Congress.

Obama attempted to appeal to the better nature of both parties, saying they can have differences but do not have demonize each other. He urged both parties to put the interests of the country first and seek compromises.

However, the president made it clear that he’s no lame duck. He warned Congress that bills that he deems harmful or putting America on the wrong path will be vetoed. Obama intends to cement his legacy with his final two years in office and the country will benefit from an energized, recommitted president.