Engage. Inform. Discuss.
social activism of the informative kind.
SOCIAL ANGST is more than just a blog, it is an invitation to aid in the building of wealth through the shared task of information distribution and discussion. It is a call to engage – engage in society, engage with your peers, engage in your political system, engage in spreading the wealth that is information, and engage in multiplying that wealth through discussion – so that collectively we may become more socially aware, more socially responsible, more socially vocal and ultimately more socially valuable.
"We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary." - Malcolm X, 1964
It has been 45+ years since Malcolm X uttered the phrase that would become synonymous with his legacy. By any means necessary - a four word statement that even til this day brings a powerful sense of reckoning with it. I think about what the era of civil rights must have been like. What the overpowering sense of unrest must have felt like. How anxious for change blacks must have been. I think of the excitement, focus, determination and action and I am slightly envious.
There is something mesmerizing to me about the era of civil rights. Whether accurate or not, I imagine the era to be one of cultural synergy, where the collective desire for progress among Black people was so urgent that inaction was not an option. By comparison, my generation, seems (whether accurate or not) contented with the status quo.
It isn't that we have no societal ills to fight against and rally behind. There are any number of causes that directly affect the livelihood and developmental potential of Black society. Systematic inequalities in education, employment, media and public perception are all causes that could and should be advocated for by the Black populace.
Alas, perhaps life is currently too good and only through tremendous strife are people willing to push themselves and their race to greatness. By any means necessary... Perhaps when the means are too simple - educating one self, involving oneself in the political process, communing with ones neighbors to strengthen communities, being benevolent to those who have been less fortunate than you, and sharing information - it's just not that interesting.
By any means necessary. It wasn't a call to violence more than a call to action.
Happy Black History Month (though the phrase didn't trend yesterday...)! I'll give Malcolm the stage:
Bent on leveraging momentum gained by his State of the Union Addresss, President Obama met with Senate Democrats today to answer their questions. As I spoke about earlier, I am encouraged to see some actual strategic execution from the Obama team lately. After fielding questions from the GOP earlier this week, opening the stage to his fellow Democrats, some of whom will be seeking reelection in November, is a win-win situation for all.
Shoshana Nyree Johnson knows she has everything to be grateful for. At age 31 she is a veteran, a hero, and a survivor. On March 23, 2003, one month after deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, her unit was ambushed and a wounded Johnson, along with 11 other soldiers, was taken prisoner by Iraqi enemy forces. In televised footage that aired internationally, Johnson was seen being held captive and questioned by an off camera reporter.
Johnson and six other prisoners of war were rescued several weeks later by U.S. Marine forces and returned home a hero on April 16th 2003. Since her rescue, Johnson, who is the first Black American female POW, has written a book outlining her experiences titled, I'm Still Standing: From U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen--My Journey Home (Touchstone 2010).
Watch Shoshana speak with Matt Lauer in her Today Show interview.
In her signature relaxed and candid style, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke with NBC's Matt Lauer for a Today Show interview today. Her down to earth nature is as charming as ever as she discloses her consistent awe at the media frenzy surrounding her and her family, stating simply, "I don't think I'm that interesting. I don't think my husband is that interesting." When asked about her husband's recently declining poll numbers, she chooses an objective response instead of a personal one. "It's part of the job" she says, "This has been a tough year for the nation. Folks out of work; two wars. We have an economy that we've pulled from the brink of depression. Folk, you know, they're looking for work. They're losing their homes. So Americans are rightfully frustrated and the person in charge is the person folks look to."
See the entire video, courtesy of msnbc.com below.
The infamous Greensboro, N.C. Woolworth, stage of the 1960 Greensboro Sit-In, was officially reincarnated today as the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. The former five and dime store became a civil rights landmark after 4 Black students sat down at the (then) segregated Woolworth lunch counter and refused to get up until they were served. From the ICRCM website:
The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is an archival center, collecting museum and teaching facility devoted to the international struggle for civil and human rights. The Museum celebrates the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins, which served as a catalyst in the civil rights movement. The Museum complex includes 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and is located in the historic 1929 F.W. Woolworth building in Greensboro, N.C.
Check out CBS coverage of the museum's inauguration below.
Let me be transparent. My aim over the next month is to offer Black History content that compels you guys to retweet. As I stated in my earlier editor's note, nothing would give me greater pleasure than seeing Black History Month remain a trending topic on Twitter throughout February 2010. With that in mind, I ask that if you like it or think it's highly relevent, you share it! Just a simple retweet will help keep Black History relevant all month long!
To that end here are a few web based Black History Month celebrations that I want to pass along. Kudos to all the organizations that are taking a vested interest in supplying Black History content this month; in doing so they are also taking a vested interested in US. Help me reward them for their efforts by spreading the word! Black History Month with News One. (newsone.com)
News one is offering a variety of pictures, commentary, and discussion relating to a wide range of Black History. Though the site has an ongoing Afrocentric theme, they promise to spend the next 28 days focused on celebrating Black achievement.
Black Grammy Winners. (bvnewswire.com)
In celebration of Black History Month, Black Voices has done a stellar job compiling names, pictures and award stats on Black Grammy Award Winners. The list of the 52 Black Grammy winners is sure to include some of your favorite entertainers.
Yahoo Events!: Celebrating Black History. (events.yahoo.com/blackhistory/2010/)
Yahoo Events gets into the spirit of Black History month with its magnificent time-line porthole. The porthole takes visitors through a virtual tour of 6 major eras in Black American history: Slavery & Abolition, Civil War/Renaissance, WWII & Unrest, Civil Rights & Beyond, A New Era, and Legacy Lives On. Definitely worth a perusal and retweet!
Biography Channel: Celebrate Black History. (biography.com/blackhistory)
Biography.com celebrates Black History with biographies of famous Black people and places, an interactive timeline, and 101 fast facts on Black History!! Site browsers will be treated to a plethora of engaging material including photo galleries and videos for the total Black History experience!
PBS & NPR Present African American World. (pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/history/)
Though not specifically developed for Black History Month, African American World, a joint project between PBS and NPR is a wonderful collection of Black history, culture and society. The ongoing project has a wide variety of multimedia offerings that will delight any Black studies enthusiast.
I believe in positive reinforcement. That is why I'm doing this BET shout out. Not often does BET have programming that I consider particularly stimulating, but when they do get it right, I like to help get the word out. Tonight the Black Entertainment Television network will be presenting their annual BET Honors show.
This year the show will pay homage to an incredible group of talent including Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Sean Puffy Combs, Keith L. Black, M.D., and Ruth J. Simmons.
Visit the official BET Honoree page for information about each individual. And see host Gabrielle Union being silly in the video below!
President Obama spoke about his 2011 budget proposal and the $3.83 trillion deficit at a press conference this morning. The press conference comes on the heels of some rather optimistic economical news. According to the New York Times, the US economy grew at an annual rate of 5.7%, the fastest growth rate since the third quarter of 2003. From The New York Times:
The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in more than six years at the end of 2009, even as businesses resisted hiring and continued to do more with less.
The broadest measure of economic activity, gross domestic product, expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, after a 2.2 percent increase the previous quarter.
“It was an excellent report, but it’s not clear how sustainable this pace of growth is,” said John Ryding, chief economist of RDQ Economics.
The growth rate was the fastest since the third quarter of 2003, when the economy grew at a rate of 6.9 percent. But even 2009’s fourth-quarter surge was not enough to overcome a terrible start to the year. The economy finished 2009 with its biggest contraction since 1946, when the country was still cooling off from World War II.
The Obama administration seized on news of the latest upturn as an opportunity to push its proposal to encourage hiring. Companies would receive a tax credit of up to $5,000 for each new hire, and an additional credit on Social Security payroll taxes for raising wages — by increasing hourly pay or work hours, for example — in excess of inflation.
“Now’s the perfect time for this kind of incentive because the economy is growing, but businesses are still hesitant to start hiring again,” President Obama said in Baltimore. (Read the full article)
As with most fiscally conservative budgets, the 2011 budget is already receiving some backlash. Among those not happy is NASA, who could see their Constellation Program cancelled, if the budget is approved.
Though Obama's budget seeks to reduce spending while still incentivising job creation, some Republicans are also not happy. Politico reports:
Republicans are ripping into Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget today, criticizing the spending increases, record deficits and tax increases on the wealthy.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) hinted at hypocrisy in the White House’s budget, which was delivered to Capitol Hill this morning. He said that Obama spoke about “the importance of fiscal responsibility” at his conference’s retreat in Baltimore last weekend but delivered a budget that “spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.” (Read the entire article)
Video of this morning's press conference is below.
Greetings, salutations, and happy Black History Month!
This month Social Angst will be partaking in the annual celebration of Black History Month by offering a plethora of facts, news, and commentary focused on Black History. Yes, I know, doesn't sound too different from any other day here at Social Angst, but don't worry, I aim to throw in a couple of Twitter worthy surprises!!
Speaking of Twitter, as I got up this morning, I was thinking that it would be FANTASTIC if you Tweeters could get on your micro-blogging grind and make Black History Month a trending topic every single day in the month of February 2010. It would be a great showing to the community at large of how important Black History Month is to the Black American populace. It would help garner media attention for the thousands of Black History Month events happening all around the country Being that I don't Twitter myself, I'm hoping you guys help me get this message out! Tweet for Black History dammit!!
Looking and sounding better than she has in years, Lauryn Hill and her band performed in Melbourne, Australia on January 31, 2010. It makes me happy to see her once again doing what she was born to do (although, I'm still concerned about the hat and jacket...)
Live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl - (Melbourne, Australia 31.01.2010)
I'm still looking for the Mary J Blige performance (she did her thing). I'll add it as soon as I find it. If you didn't see Pink's performance, I must say it was probably my favorite of the night.
Michael Jackson Tribute - Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, & Usher
Race Relations Racial Death Threats a Reality at Ohio College. (bvblackspin.com)
Black students at the Ohio based Hocking College are proceeding cautiously after a racially motivated death threat was found scrawled on a bathroom wall. The threat - that black students will be killed on February 2nd - is being actively investigated by the FBI.
Pittsburgh Teen to File Suit Against Abusive Officers. (thegrio.com)
Jordan Miles, the young man who was beaten by undercover Pittsburgh Police Officers earlier this week, is set to file a lawsuit against his attackers.
Haiti Women-Only Coupons to get Aid to Most Needy. (newsone.com)
Relief workers think they have found a solution to the problem of men overpowering women and children on relief distribution lines. World Food Program coupons will be distributed to woman and can be redeemed for 55 pounds of rice at 16 locations in Port Au Prince.
Homosexual Haitians: Worried About Faith-Based Aid? (huffingtonpost.com)Reports of discrimination against LGBTQ citizens after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina are leading some to question whether some faith-based aid organizations let religion get in the way of relief.
Hurricane Makes Haiti Vulnerable to Human Traffickers. (huffingtonpost.com)The hurricane in Haiti has left thousands of children orphaned and has also created an appealing environment for human traffickers. Ten Americans are currently being held on suspicion of kidnapping as they attempted to take 33 children across the Dominican Republic border.
Sports
Serena Wins Australian Open...Again. (newsone.com) Serena William won her second straight Australian and 12th Grand Slam title tying Billie Jean King's for the most Grand Slam title wins by any woman in the Open era.
Everything Else Etta James Hospitalized. (blackamericaweb.com)
72-year old singer Etta James was hospitalized for a serious infection in Southern California.
Black beauty from Virginia is Crowned Miss America. (newsone.com)
22 Year old Caressa Cameron, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, beat out 52 fellow contestants to become the 89th winner of the Miss America Pageant.
Tiger Wood's Wife Calls of Divorce. (thefirstpost.co.uk/)
Sources are reporting that Elin Nordegren has halted her divorce actions against husband Tiger Woods. An optimistic Nordegren, who reportedly spent 5 days visiting her husband at the Mississippi based rehabilitation center where he is currently undergoing treatment for sex addiction, is now said to be reconsidering the couples divorce. Kanye West Lawsuit Dismissed. (thegrio.com)
Rapper Kanye West, though banned from participating in the Haiti telethon benefit, has something to be happy about. After proving to the courts that he had performed 50 hours of community service with the Red Cross, Kanye had an earlier charge stemming from an altercation with photogs at LAX in 2008, dismissed.
Earlier today President Obama broke new ground in American politics by joining the House Republicans at their annual retreat for a town hall-type discussion on bipartisanship. For those, like me, who have often wondered whether a bipartisan Washington could ever really exist, this experiment visit, both adventurous and unorthodox in political nature, was a delight to witness. The truth, even in our capitol, lies somewhere in between two extremes and today's therapy session town hall gave a unique glimpse at what political truth could potentially look like.
Once introduced, President Obama received a polite if not obligatory round of applause. He then delivered a (brief) 21-minute statement, which he read from behind a podium, that detailed his first person account of the partisan blockages he faced during his first year as President. Obama took the time to specify examples of centrist-right polices that, on GOP general principle, have been defeated, seemingly as an act of defiance against him. At times he painted himself as a martyr:
"These are serious tines and what is required by all of us, Democrats and Republicans, is to do what's right for our country; even if it's not always best for our politics. I know it may be heresy to say this, but there are things more important than good poll numbers. (Chuckles) And on this no one can accuse me of not living by my principles."
Other times, he self-righteously (and rightfully) reminded the room that their task is to work in the interest of the American public:
"A middle class that is back on it's feet, and economy that lifts everybody up, an America that's ascendant in the world - that's more important than winning an election. Our future shouldn't be shaped by what's best for our politics, our politics should be shaped by what's best for our future."
During the speech, Obama looked genuinely appreciative for the opportunity and cautiously hopeful that someone small population of the room would be open to his (slightly utopian) hope for bipartisan action. That demeanor, however, was quickly replaced by frustration during a tug of war Question & Answer session.
See what could be the baby step beginnings of Washington bipartisanship below.
I watched Obama's 2010 State of the Union in its entirety last night. I was wholly engaged the first 45 to 50 minutes, then my attention started to wane. It wasn't his best speech. It wasn't his best performance. It was, however, a small glimpse of fire and a much-needed reminder that the candidate I helped elect, still exists in there, somewhere. Here's how Social Angst graded the President's first State of The Union Address:
THE SPEECH
If I’m being honest, I was a little disappointed in the speech. Off the bat, the speech was about 15 minutes too long. It was also redundant. There were too many (less than subtle) mentions of the W. Bush era. One reference, for the benefit of setting the record straight on federal spending, played perfectly and would have sufficed. Unfortunately, eluding to Bush a second and third time, played more like laying blame than clarifying for accuracy.
I was also left missing the majesty that I have come to expect from an Obama speech, which are typically intelligent, eloquent and inspirational. Yesterday, I assume for sobering affect, Obama and his team took a page from John McCain and aimed for straight talk instead of a moving soliloquy. This wasn’t a rally call. Sentences were kept brief and cadence was terse, perhaps as a means to “get down to business”. My heart did no cartwheels, my love for language and its masterful manipulation was left unrequited.
There were some high points though. My inbred American pride swelled slightly as he proclaimed that he would “not accept second place for America”. And he my heart swooned after the lines “Let's invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let's meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let's try common sense.”
The overall tone of the speech was slightly more explanative than I would have liked, though I understand it was necessary. In rereading the transcript, I see that there was an attempt to strike a balance between defending the actions of his first year and outlining his plan for next. Unfortunately, in watching the speech, the balance was less apparent.
Graded: B-
THE PERFORMANCE
Watching Obama speak from behind a podium is always a slight disappointment. Obama is at his best with a microphone in hand, sleeves rolled up, and on a stage where he can roam freely. Behind a podium, he tends to look stifled and his normally relaxed nature is less effective behind the stately piece of furniture.
Throughout the speech, there was one body language issue that really held my attention – his hands. I found my self somewhat distracted watching him restrain his natural tendency to articulate his point with his hands. It looked as if he had been coached to reign in his animation by clasping his fingers and placing them atop the podium. For some reason it bugged me, I suspect because in my mind the censorship of body language rings slightly less than genuine. Not a major pitfall, just a minor annoyance (born from my own overly analytical mind).
Graded: A-
THE STRATEGY
The greatest aspect of Obama’s speech was by far his return to strategy. Watching him speak last night finally allowed me to pinpoint what his political persona has been lacking over the last few months. During the campaign, we were introduced to a smart, subtle, patient and calculating candidate. While he has always played nice, posturing impeccably as the picture of self-control, never throughout the campaign did he seem like a wimp. Never did he allow his opponents or the media to misrepresent him or his stance on an issue at length. He was always strategic in dealing with inaccuracies – dismissing them with subtle, witty, and matter of fact rebuttals that set the record straight. Over the last few months, however, Obama has been a shadow of his campaign persona. His reactions to the media and his adversaries have lacked strategy (or at least strategy that is easily recognizable to common citizens, pundits, and political enthusiasts such as myself). No doubt that the Obama team has always had a political plan – unfortunately that plan was completely lost on the rest of us.
Last night, however, the Obama team made a return to preparedness and strategy and it was a pure joy to watch. He used everything in his available arsenal to set the record straight. First and foremost, he used the forum to educate the average American viewer - those people whose interpretation of politics is surmised almost totally by the opinions of their favorite partisan media personality. He set the record straight on his policy initiatives– passing the stimulus bill in the face of huge opposition, bailing out the banks for the greater good of the American economy in the face of public dismay and personal ideological conflict, and attempting to reform health care at the cost of his own political well being – outlining how above all he has made the American populace his top priority. He outlined his various attempts at bipartisan politicking and masterfully used the audience, specifically the unenthusiastic Republican portion of his audience, to show the American people how the GOP consistently rejected his policy “olive branches”. That being, perhaps, his greatest accomplishment of the night!
Graded: A+.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Since the beginning, Obama’s biggest political ally has been the common people. Last night it seemed like he remembered that. Helping the average American understand what’s going on in Washington is a gift he’d been previously squandering. Let’s hope he can keep this momentum. Let’s hope he can remember that for America to support him, they must first understand what the hell is going on.
Overall Grade for the SOTU: B+
It was an excellent start to his sophomore year.
Of course this is not a "response" in the classic sense of the term. Virgina Gov. Bob McDonald briefly paraphrases the GOP's view of our current political schema.
It was 25 years ago today that Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Lionel Richie collaborated with a litany of American celebrities to record "We Are The World." Back then, proceeds of the USA for America recording raised $60 million in aid for Africa famine relief. To commemorate the anniversary, Jones and Richie aim to remake the record to benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake. So far participants for the new project is set to include: Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith, and Sheryl Crow among others. The song is scheduled to be recorded this upcoming Monday.
David Stern has put out the following statement regarding the suspensions of NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, the two sports stars now infamous for brandishing fire arms in their Washington Wizards locker room.
David Stern: The NBA has conducted a thorough investigation of events relating to this matter.
"It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team's flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and – with other players and team personnel present or nearby – displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute. The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person.
"The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.
"I have met separately with Mr. Arenas and with Mr. Crittenton. Both have expressed remorse for their actions and an understanding of the seriousness of their transgressions. Both have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others. I accept fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret and intent to create something positive from this incident.
"Nevertheless, there is no justification for their conduct. Accordingly, I am today converting Mr. Arenas' indefinite suspension without pay to a suspension without pay for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, and am also suspending Mr. Crittenton without pay, effective immediately, for the remainder of the 2009-10 season."
The Hope For Haiti Now album has made history by becoming the first digital-only album to debut in the #1 position. On Wednesday Nielson SoundScan confirmed that the album, which features big name artists Jay-z, Beyonce, Madonna and others had sold 171,000 units in its first weekend.
Transcript of President Obama's speech as provided by cnn.com:
Obama: Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the president shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.
It's tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable -- that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people.
Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history's call.
One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted -- immediately and aggressively. And one year later, the worst of the storm has passed.
But the devastation remains. One in 10 Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. For those who had already known poverty, life has become that much harder.
This recession has also compounded the burdens that America's families have been dealing with for decades -- the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.
So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. They're not new. These struggles are the reason I ran for president. These struggles are what I've witnessed for years in places like Elkhart, Indiana, and Galesburg, Illinois. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children -- asking why they have to move from their home, or when their mom or dad will be able to go back to work.
For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don't understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded but hard work on Main Street isn't; or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. They are tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we can't afford it. Not now.
So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope -- what they deserve -- is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds, different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bills. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.
You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids; starting businesses and going back to school. They're coaching little league and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote me, "We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged."
It is because of this spirit -- this great decency and great strength -- that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength.
And tonight, I'd like to talk about how together, we can deliver on that promise.
It begins with our economy.
Our most urgent task upon taking office was to shore up the same banks that helped cause this crisis. It was not easy to do. And if there's one thing that has unified Democrats and Republicans, it's that we all hated the bank bailout. I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal.
But when I ran for president, I promised I wouldn't just do what was popular -- I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.
So I supported the last administration's efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we spent on the banks. Most, but not all.
To recover the rest, I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks. I know Wall Street isn't keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.
As we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed.
That's why we extended or increased unemployment benefits for more than 18 million Americans; made health insurance 65 percent cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA; and passed 25 different tax cuts.
Let me repeat: We cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college.
I thought I'd get some applause on that one.
As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas, and food, and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers. And we haven't raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person. Not a single dime.
Because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. Two-hundred-thousand work in construction and clean energy. Three-hundred-thousand are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.
The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. That's right -- the Recovery Act, also known as the Stimulus Bill. Economists on the left and the right say that this bill has helped save jobs and avert disaster. But you don't have to take their word for it.
Talk to the small business in Phoenix that will triple its workforce because of the Recovery Act.
Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he used to be skeptical about the Recovery Act, until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created.
Talk to the single teacher raising two kids who was told by her principal in the last week of school that because of the Recovery Act, she wouldn't be laid off after all.
There are stories like this all across America. And after two years of recession, the economy is growing again. Retirement funds have started to gain back some of their value. Businesses are beginning to invest again, and slowly some are starting to hire again.
But I realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from; who send out resumes week after week and hear nothing in response. That is why jobs must be our number one focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight.
Now, the true engine of job creation in this country will always be America's businesses. But government can create the conditions necessary for businesses to expand and hire more workers.
We should start where most new jobs do -- in small businesses, companies that begin when an entrepreneur takes a chance on a dream, or a worker decides it's time she became her own boss.
Through sheer grit and determination, these companies have weathered the recession and are ready to grow. But when you talk to small business owners in places like Allentown, Pennsylvania, or Elyria, Ohio, you find out that even though banks on Wall Street are lending again, they are mostly lending to bigger companies. But financing remains difficult for small business owners across the country, even those that are making a profit.
So tonight, I'm proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I am also proposing a new small business tax credit -- one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages. While we're at it, let's also eliminate all capital gains taxes on small business investment; and provide a tax incentive for all businesses, large and small, to invest in new plants and equipment.
Next, we can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow. From the first railroads to the interstate highway system, our nation has always been built to compete. There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products.
Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help our nation move goods, services, and information. We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities, and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy efficient, which supports clean energy jobs. And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it's time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs in the United States of America.
The House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same and I know they will. People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.
But the truth is, these steps won't make up for the 7 million jobs we've lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America's families have confronted for years.
We cannot afford another so-called economic "expansion" like the one from last decade -- what some call the "lost decade" -- where jobs grew more slowly than during any prior expansion; where the income of the average American household declined while the cost of health care and tuition reached record highs; where prosperity was built on a housing bubble and financial speculation.
From the day I took office, I have been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious -- that such efforts would be too contentious, that our political system is too gridlocked, and that we should just put things on hold for awhile.
For those who make these claims, I have one simple question:
How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?
You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China's not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany's not waiting. India's not waiting. These nations aren't standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They are making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs.
Well I do not accept second place for the United States of America. As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may become, it's time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth.
One place to start is serious financial reform. Look, I am not interested in punishing banks, I'm interested in protecting our economy. A strong, healthy financial market makes it possible for businesses to access credit and create new jobs. It channels the savings of families into investments that raise incomes. But that can only happen if we guard against the same recklessness that nearly brought down our entire economy.
We need to make sure consumers and middle-class families have the information they need to make financial decisions. We can't allow financial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy.
The House has already passed financial reform with many of these changes. And the lobbyists are already trying to kill it. Well, we cannot let them win this fight. And if the bill that ends up on my desk does not meet the test of real reform, I will send it back until we get it right. We've got to get it right.
Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history -- an investment that could lead to the world's cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last year's investment in clean energy -- in the North Carolina company that will create 1200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries; or in the California business that will put 1,000 people to work making solar panels.
But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. That means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.
I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. This year, I am eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy; and I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future -- because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.
Third, we need to export more of our goods. Because the more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America. So tonight, we set a new goal: We will double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support 2 million jobs in America. To help meet this goal, we're launching a National Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports, and reform export controls consistent with national security.
We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are. If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores. But realizing those benefits also means enforcing those agreements so our trading partners play by the rules. And that's why we will continue to shape a Doha trade agreement that opens global markets, and why we will strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea, Panama, and Colombia.
Fourth, we need to invest in the skills and education of our people.
This year, we have broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. The idea here is simple: instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform -- reform that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to inner-cities. In the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education. In this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than their potential.
When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all 50 states. Still, in this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. I urge the Senate to follow the House and pass a bill that will revitalize our community colleges, which are a career pathway to the children of so many working families. To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer-subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, let's take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. And let's tell another 1 million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years -- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service. Because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college. And it's time for colleges and universities to get serious about cutting their own costs -- because they too have a responsibility to help solve this problem.
Now, the price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle-class. That's why last year I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on middle-class families. That's why we're nearly doubling the child care tax credit, and making it easier to save for retirement by giving every worker access to a retirement account and expanding the tax credit for those who start a nest egg. That's why we're working to lift the value of a family's single largest investment -- their home. The steps we took last year to shore up the housing market have allowed millions of Americans to take out new loans and save an average of $1,500 on mortgage payments. This year, we will step up re-financing so that homeowners can move into more affordable mortgages. And it is precisely to relieve the burden on middle-class families that we still need health insurance reform.
Now let's clear a few things up -- I did not choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics.
I took on health care because of the stories I've heard from Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who've been denied coverage; and families -- even those with insurance -- who are just one illness away from financial ruin.
After nearly a century of trying, we are closer than ever to bringing more security to the lives of so many Americans. The approach we've taken would protect every American from the worst practices of the insurance industry. It would give small businesses and uninsured Americans a chance to choose an affordable health care plan in a competitive market. It would require every insurance plan to cover preventive care. And by the way, I want to acknowledge our first lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make kids healthier.
Our approach would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan. It would reduce costs and premiums for millions of families and businesses. And according to the Congressional Budget Office -- the independent organization that both parties have cited as the official scorekeeper for Congress -- our approach would bring down the deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.
Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering "what's in it for me?"
But I also know this problem is not going away. By the time I'm finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
As temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan we've proposed. There's a reason why many doctors, nurses and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Here's what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.
Now, even as health care reform would reduce our deficit, it's not enough to dig us out of a massive fiscal hole in which we find ourselves. It's a challenge that makes all others that much harder to solve, and one that's been subject to a lot of political posturing.
So let me start the discussion of government spending by setting the record straight. At the beginning of the last decade, America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade. Most of this was the result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program. On top of that, the effects of the recession put a $3 trillion hole in our budget. That was before I walked in the door.
Now if we had taken office in ordinary times, I would have liked nothing more than to start bringing down the deficit. But we took office amid a crisis, and our efforts to prevent a second Depression have added another $1 trillion to our national debt. That too is a fact.
I am absolutely convinced that was the right thing to do. But families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same. So tonight, I'm proposing specific steps to pay for the $1 trillion that it took to rescue the economy last year.
Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. But all other discretionary government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don't. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will.
We will continue to go through the budget line by line to eliminate programs that we can't afford and don't work. We've already identified $20 billion in savings for next year. To help working families, we will extend our middle-class tax cuts. But at a time of record deficits, we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, investment fund managers, and for those making over $250,000 a year. We just can't afford it.
Now, even after paying for what we spent on my watch, we will still face the massive deficit we had when I took office. More importantly, the cost of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will continue to skyrocket. That's why I've called for a bipartisan fiscal commission, modeled on a proposal by Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Kent Conrad. This can't be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem. The commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline. Yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission. So I will issue an executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans. And when the vote comes tomorrow, the Senate should restore the pay-as-you-go law that was a big reason why we had record surpluses in the 1990s.
I know that some in my own party will argue that we can't address the deficit or freeze government spending when so many are still hurting. I agree, which is why this freeze won't take effect until next year, when the economy is stronger. But understand -- if we don't take meaningful steps to rein in our debt, it could damage our markets, increase the cost of borrowing, and jeopardize our recovery -- all of which could have an even worse effect on our job growth and family incomes.
From some on the right, I expect we'll hear a different argument -- that if we just make fewer investments in our people, extend tax cuts for wealthier Americans, eliminate more regulations, and maintain the status quo on health care, our deficits will go away. The problem is, that's what we did for eight years. That's what helped lead us into this crisis. It's what helped lead to these deficits. And we cannot do it again.
Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it's time to try something new. Let's invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let's meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let's try common sense.
To do that, we have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust -- deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we must take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; and to give our people the government they deserve.
That's what I came to Washington to do. That's why -- for the first time in history -- my administration posts our White House visitors online. And that's why we've excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions.
But we can't stop there. It's time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my administration or Congress. And it's time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office. Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests -- including foreign corporations -- to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that's why I'm urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.
I'm also calling on Congress to continue down the path of earmark reform. You have trimmed some of this spending and embraced some meaningful change. But restoring the public trust demands more. For example, some members of Congress post some earmark requests online. Tonight, I'm calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single Web site before there's a vote so that the American people can see how their money is being spent.
Of course, none of these reforms will even happen if we don't also reform how we work with one another.
Now, I am not naïve. I never thought the mere fact of my election would usher in peace, harmony, and some post-partisan era. I knew that both parties have fed divisions that are deeply entrenched. And on some issues, there are simply philosophical differences that will always cause us to part ways. These disagreements, about the role of government in our lives, about our national priorities and our national security, have been taking place for over 200 years. They are the very essence of our democracy.
But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent -- a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators. Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, is just part of the game. But it is precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people. Worse yet, it is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government.
So no, I will not give up on trying to change the tone of our politics. I know it's an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let's show the American people that we can do it together. This week, I'll be addressing a meeting of the House Republicans. And I would like to begin monthly meetings with both the Democratic and Republican leadership. I know you can't wait.
Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security. Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated. We can argue all we want about who's to blame for this, but I am not interested in re-litigating the past. I know that all of us love this country. All of us are committed to its defense. So let's put aside the schoolyard taunts about who is tough. Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values. Let's leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future -- for America and the world.
That is the work we began last year. Since the day I took office, we have renewed our focus on the terrorists who threaten our nation. We have made substantial investments in our homeland security and disrupted plots that threatened to take American lives. We are filling unacceptable gaps revealed by the failed Christmas attack, with better airline security, and swifter action on our intelligence. We have prohibited torture and strengthened partnerships from the Pacific to South Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. And in the last year, hundreds of Al Qaeda's fighters and affiliates, including many senior leaders, have been captured or killed -- far more than in 2008.
In Afghanistan, we are increasing our troops and training Afghan Security Forces so they can begin to take the lead in July of 2011, and our troops can begin to come home. We will reward good governance, reduce corruption, and support the rights of all Afghans -- men and women alike. We are joined by allies and partners who have increased their own commitment, and who will come together tomorrow in London to reaffirm our common purpose. There will be difficult days ahead. But I am confident we will succeed.
As we take the fight to al Qaeda, we are responsibly leaving Iraq to its people. As a candidate, I promised that I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as president. We will have all of our combat troops out of Iraq by the end of this August. We will support the Iraqi government as they hold elections, and continue to partner with the Iraqi people to promote regional peace and prosperity. But make no mistake: This war is ending, and all of our troops are coming home.
Tonight, all of our men and women in uniform -- in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world -- must know that they have our respect, our gratitude, and our full support. And just as they must have the resources they need in war, we all have a responsibility to support them when they come home. That is why we made the largest increase in investments for veterans in decades. That is why we are building a 21st century [Veterans Affairs]. And that is why Michelle has joined with Jill Biden to forge a national commitment to support military families.
Even as we prosecute two wars, we are also confronting perhaps the greatest danger to the American people -- the threat of nuclear weapons. I have embraced the vision of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan through a strategy that reverses the spread of these weapons, and seeks a world without them. To reduce our stockpiles and launchers, while ensuring our deterrent, the United States and Russia are completing negotiations on the farthest-reaching arms control treaty in nearly two decades. And at April's Nuclear Security Summit, we will bring 44 nations together behind a clear goal: securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years, so that they never fall into the hands of terrorists.
These diplomatic efforts have also strengthened our hand in dealing with those nations that insist on violating international agreements in pursuit of these weapons. That is why North Korea now faces increased isolation, and stronger sanctions -- sanctions that are being vigorously enforced. That is why the international community is more united, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is more isolated. And as Iran's leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: they, too, will face growing consequences.
That is the leadership that we are providing -- engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people. We are working through the G-20 to sustain a lasting global recovery. We are working with Muslim communities around the world to promote science, education and innovation. We have gone from a bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change. We are helping developing countries to feed themselves, and continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. And we are launching a new initiative that will give us the capacity to respond faster and more effectively to bio-terrorism or an infectious disease -- a plan that will counter threats at home, and strengthen public health abroad.
As we have for over 60 years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right. That is why, as we meet here tonight, over 10,000 Americans are working with many nations to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild. That is why we stand with the girl who yearns to go to school in Afghanistan; we support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran; and we advocate for the young man denied a job by corruption in Guinea. For America must always stand on the side of freedom and human dignity.
Abroad, America's greatest source of strength has always been our ideals. The same is true at home. We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it; that if you adhere to our common values you should be treated no different than anyone else.
We must continually renew this promise. My administration has a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination. We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate. This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. We are going to crack down on violations of equal pay laws -- so that women get equal pay for an equal day's work. And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system -- to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nations.
In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America -- values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still. Every day, Americans meet their responsibilities to their families and their employers. Time and again, they lend a hand to their neighbors and give back to their country. They take pride in their labor, and are generous in spirit. These aren't Republican values or Democratic values they're living by; business values or labor values. They are American values.
Unfortunately, too many of our citizens have lost faith that our biggest institutions -- our corporations, our media, and yes, our government -- still reflect these same values. Each of these institutions are full of honorable men and women doing important work that helps our country prosper. But each time a CEO rewards himself for failure, or a banker puts the rest of us at risk for his own selfish gain, people's doubts grow. Each time lobbyists game the system or politicians tear each other down instead of lifting this country up, we lose faith. The more that TV pundits reduce serious debates into silly arguments, and big issues into sound bites, our citizens turn away.
No wonder there's so much cynicism out there.
No wonder there's so much disappointment.
I campaigned on the promise of change -- change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren't sure if they still believe we can change -- or at least, that I can deliver it.
But remember this -- I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of 300 million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That's just how it is.
Those of us in public office can respond to this reality by playing it safe and avoid telling hard truths. We can do what's necessary to keep our poll numbers high, and get through the next election instead of doing what's best for the next generation.
But I also know this: If people had made that decision 50 years ago or 100 years ago or 200 years ago, we wouldn't be here tonight. The only reason we are here is because generations of Americans were unafraid to do what was hard; to do what was needed even when success was uncertain; to do what it took to keep the dream of this nation alive for their children and grandchildren.
Our administration has had some political setbacks this year, and some of them were deserved. But I wake up every day knowing that they are nothing compared to the setbacks that families all across this country have faced this year. And what keeps me going -- what keeps me fighting -- is that despite all these setbacks, that spirit of determination and optimism -- that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people -- lives on.
It lives on in the struggling small business owner who wrote to me of his company, "None of us," he said, "... are willing to consider, even slightly, that we might fail."
It lives on in the woman who said that even though she and her neighbors have felt the pain of recession, "We are strong. We are resilient. We are American."
It lives on in the 8-year old boy in Louisiana, who just sent me his allowance and asked if I would give it to the people of Haiti. And it lives on in all the Americans who've dropped everything to go some place they've never been and pull people they've never known from rubble, prompting chants of "USA! USA! USA!" when another life was saved.
The spirit that has sustained this nation for more than two centuries lives on in you, its people.
We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.
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