State of the Union: Some Thoughts

First of all, let me just say that I remember rushing upstairs to type out all my notes for SOTUs past. This time, I watched for the sake of saying I did, skipped the Democratic response altogether, blogged about a totally unrelated topic, and went to sleep. That about sums up my enthusiasm for the event.

In fact, I actually pined for a good purple thumb or two. Or Tom DeLay to scowl at. I dunno. The Republicans just seem so boring these days. . . . .

But there were a couple of things last night worth mentioning, so I’ll do that.

For example, how about that health care initiative? In order to make health insurance more affordable to low-income households, George Bush proposes a tax credit for people who are spending money on health insurance. This is one of those proposals that makes you go, “hey! That’s a pretty good. . . no. . no, no, wait. Nope. That’s fuckin’ stupid.”

First of all, tax credits mean very little to the unemployed or underemployed. It’s fine for the middle-to-lower income folks, but even then, the numbers aren’t going to be all that impressive. In fact, as a piece de resistance to show just how truly out of touch he and his administration are to the plight of non-millionaires while simultaneously blowing smoke up their collective ass about what a great tax credit he’s giving them, Dubya cites the tax benefits for people with an income of $60,000.

Dude. Who the hell makes $60,000 a year and doesn’t have frickin health insurance?!?!?!?!? What the hell? Does Dubya really think Walmart pays it’s stock clerks that much?

Moreover, when I think of national health care plans, I don’t typically think in terms of handouts for health insurance companies, but that is precisely what this is. I mean, what he’s really saying is, “We’re going to give the insurance industry billions of extra dollars by disguising it as a tax break for you po folk who spend it all on health insurance. Oh yeah, and let’s balance that budget while we’re at it. What the hell.”

So, that was Pee-Wee Dubya’s Big Idea of the Day. That’s what he came up with. The rest was beyond fluff. It was fluff girls for the Dems, just to take the bite out of their response (which, as I say, was pointless to watch. Dubya’s going to play nice, the Dems need to play nice, so this one’s effectively self-cancelling from the get-go.). And of course, there is always the laundry list of shit presidents want but won’t get. Seriously, the SOTU begins to take on the shape of a child’s note to Santa by the mid-point in most any president’s second term.

Immigration reform, are you daft? Social Security reform, you’re on that one again, are ye? Medicare reform, laddie? Aren’t you the one what bolloxed that bit up in the first place, mate?