Joseph R. Biden, Jr fulfilled the constitutional requirement of the U.S. President to deliver a speech about the state of the Union on February 7, 2023. The speech also has, by custom, become a speech to lay out priorities and policy objectives for the President. Facing a divided legislative branch and an opposition that routinely touts how far away from mainstream political beliefs it is, the President chose to both push for places to work together and to highlight places where his party attempted to govern, rather than message.
( The State of the Union )
( The Official Response )
The pair of speeches are accurate reflections of the state of the two parties in this year: one desperately is looking for ways to collaborate and communicate so they don't get painted as "culture warriors," while the other fully leans into the culture wars, declaring their superiority sand demanding that all others fall in line with their beliefs. One has their hands full just trying to govern and hold together what exists, flawed as it is, and possibly make some incremental changes if the opportunity presents itself, while the other wants to take it all apart and rebuild in the image of an authoritarian in lockstep with WASP supremacy and corporate domination, such that there will never be the opportunity to think differently ever again, because all other points of view will be officially forbidden. Those looking for a rallying point to fight back against the encroachment will mostly have to look elsewhere, to their states, to their localities, and to each other. Schools and libraries are probably going to be a good place to start.
( The State of the Union )
( The Official Response )
The pair of speeches are accurate reflections of the state of the two parties in this year: one desperately is looking for ways to collaborate and communicate so they don't get painted as "culture warriors," while the other fully leans into the culture wars, declaring their superiority sand demanding that all others fall in line with their beliefs. One has their hands full just trying to govern and hold together what exists, flawed as it is, and possibly make some incremental changes if the opportunity presents itself, while the other wants to take it all apart and rebuild in the image of an authoritarian in lockstep with WASP supremacy and corporate domination, such that there will never be the opportunity to think differently ever again, because all other points of view will be officially forbidden. Those looking for a rallying point to fight back against the encroachment will mostly have to look elsewhere, to their states, to their localities, and to each other. Schools and libraries are probably going to be a good place to start.