2016 marks the end of an era as the nation’s first Black president enters his eighth and final year as commander in chief.
Tonight [Tuesday, January 12 2016], President Barack Obama took the floor to deliver his final report on the State of the Union.
In an atmosphere where partisanship was stronger and thicker than ever, President Obama offered an optimistic deviation from the typical list of proposals and plans for the coming year.
At the peak of campaign season, President Obama delivered a look back into the progress he, his administration, and Congress have made in the past seven years, offering up some powerful ideas he hopes to kick start and see carried out by the nation’s next leader—no matter who that may be.
However, the most powerful message left behind by the President was one of sheer encouragement and assurance for the American people. Without apology, President Obama didn’t fail to reference the realities of the nation, highlighting past successes and urging lawmakers to bring about change on longstanding issues.
It was in a seemingly endless sea of applause that Obama offered various pieces of hope, creating a greater picture of a better America that all individuals who call this nation home can surely agree upon.
Here are the top takeaways from President Obama’s final State of the Union address.
1) He doesn’t plan on sitting his final year out: The introduction of the President’s speech served as an opportunity to make clear to everyone he doesn’t plan on taking on the role of a “lame duck” this year. Bringing up subjects such as equal pay for equal work, immigration, expanding tax cuts for low income workers, and ending gun violence, Obama made sure his agenda was heard loud and clear. “I won’t let up until they get done.”
2) He made clear the progress the country’s made while he’s been in office: At a time when the nation is more divided than ever on the popularity of the Obama administration, President Obama wants the American people to take comfort in the many things accomplished by himself and lawmakers in the past years. “We recovered from the worst economic crisis in generations…We delivered more care and benefits to our troops coming home and our veterans…We secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love.”
3) After all these years, he’s still fighting for change: Going beyond his final year in office, President Obama challenged viewers to look five years into the future, and understand the impact of change, and spark a flame of motivation to embrace this change and use for the better. “Change can broaden opportunity or widen inequality, and the pace of this change will only accelerate.”Will we respond to changes of our time with fear, or will we face the future with confidence?”
4) He reminded us of the strength of the United States: With news of hostile nations becoming more apparent every day, worries of a weakening home front have plagued the nation at an increasing rate. But, Obama offered rallies of pride and strength indicating otherwise. “Let me tell you something: the United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth, period. It’s not even close. We spend more on our entire military than the next 8 countries combined…no nation attacks us or any of our allies directly because they know that that’s the path to ruin…people in the world do not look to Moscow or Beijing to lead. They call us.”
5) He reassured his confidence in the economy: While the country recently faced its greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, despondence has been abundant and uncertainty has left many wary of the future, but the President offered a perspective for everyone to look to in regard to the country’s economic state. “The United States of America, right now, has the strongest and most durable economy in the world…we’ve created more than 14 million new jobs… the unemployment rate [has been] cut in half…our auto industry just had it’s best year ever. Anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction….the economy has been changing in profound ways.”
6) He’s challenged lawmakers and future leaders to pick up where he plans leave off: While his plans of social reform and political change offer great opportunities for the nation, we all know that President Obama won’t be able to accomplish all that he sets out to within this final year alone. While he’s delivered his plans to accelerate educational programs he’s issued a call to the nation’s leaders to continue these initiatives. “Together we’ve increased early childhood education. In the coming years we should build on that progress by providing Pre-k for all… We should recruit and support more great teachers for our kids, and we have to make college affordable for every American.” He also added words in regard to supporting small business and supporting entrepreneurship, “Workers, startups, and small businesses need more of a voice not less.” Finally, the president announced his initiatives toward medical research, “Let’s make america the country that cures cancer once and for all…We’re on track to end the scourge of HIV, and we can do the same with malaria, something I’ll be pushing congress to fund this year.”
7) He provided insight into climate change progress, and making a better world for tomorrow: Following a climate change conference in Paris this Winter, the topic has been fresh on everyone’s mind, bringing about a more serious conversation on the issue, and President Obama let us know that the American people are well ahead of the curb of protecting the environment. “In fields from Iowa to Texas, wind power is cheaper than conventional energy…solar power employs more Americans than coal. We’ve cut our imports of foreign oil by 60%, and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth, and gas under 2 bucks a gallon ain’t bad either.”
8) He addressed the fight against terrorism with vigor and determination: Acts of terror worldwide have left many in a frenzy with underlying fears of a lack of security, leaving minds to fearfully ask which city, school, place of worship, or major venue is next. While terror groups arise from origins of hate and faux ties to religion, President Obama offered a statement of reassurance in the war that the United States has waged on terror and all that it has done and will do to attack it at the source. “Priority number one is to protect the American people and go after terrorist networks. In today’s world even a handful of terrorists can do a lot of damage…We need to call them what they are..killers and fanatic who have to be hunted down, rooted out, and destroyed…If you doubt America’s commitment or mind, just ask Osama Bin Laden. When you come after Americans we go after you.”
9) He issued a not so subtle warning against politicians pushing agendas of ignorance and hate: With presidential candidates constantly pushing statements targeting immigrants and religious groups, the country received a reminder of the dangers of discrimination. “We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion,” the President stated. “Let me just say this: this is not a matter of political correctness. This is a matter of understanding what it is that makes us strong. [The world] respects us for our diversity. When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, when a kid is called names it doesn’t make us safer. It’s not telling it like it is…It betrays who we are as country.”
10) He delivered one final rally for American pride and confidence in the future: It’s true the country isn’t ever in balanced harmony, and that President Obama’s presidency has been far from perfect. But, it’s very easy to harp on the negative and forget the opportunities and bright futures available to us all. Though the government’s bound to change and the media outlets will have some disturbing news to deliver in the morning, President Obama outlined the future he sees for the nation, and no matter how much truth there really is behind his words, they should serve as something to live by. “The future we want: opportunity and security for our families, rising standard of living, a sustainable peaceful planet for kids, all that is within reach. It will only happen if we can work together…I believe in change because I believe in you. I stand as confident as I’ve ever been that the State of Our Union is strong.”
