The White House

The White House

I have a rant. But it’s probably not what you think.  I am not here to discuss the content of the speech. Thee are plenty of pundits sharing their opinion tonight.  It’s not that I don’ t have an opinion.  I do.    But that is not what I want to discuss tonight.  My complaint is that most people choose to not watch the State of the Union or the response from the opposing party at all.

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama

I understand you may not like what President Obama had to say tonight.  Or maybe it was the younger President Bush that made you mad.  Perhaps both.  But not liking what is being said does not seem to be a good reason to not listen.  I think every American should know exactly what President Obama said tonight  Know what he has planned for the next year.  Or the next four.  We need to know what is being planning in Washington.  And who is opposing those plans.  Two years from now it could be too late to learn what was said.  We need to know what the debate is really about. And the best place to learn that is not from a talking head that happens to support our point of view.  It is from the person making the plans.  It is too easy to fall back on what the media says President Obama said.  It is far better to learn for ourselves what was said tonight.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Senator Marco Rubio

BTW, this doesn’t just apply to the State of the Union.  This also replies to the opposition’s response.  In this case, it was the Republican response provided by Senator Marco Rubio.  Find out where the two parties disagree.  And where they disagree.  (Even if they don’t state their agreement directly.)  Their response to the President’s agenda will definitely have an impact on that agenda.  You may not like the impact.  Or maybe you wish it would have a bigger impact than it has thus far.  Either way, it is important to know what was said.  Actually, it is crucial that we know what was said.

Why did more people take the opportunity to watch the Superbowl than tonight’s speeches.  The combined time of the two speeches was much shorter than that of the Superbowl.  Yet, the number of viewers will be much lower even though what happens in Washington affects us much more than what happens on the football field.  (And don’t get me wrong, I love football.)

Maybe you had to work tonight or you had a sick child that required your attention.  That is understandable.  But please take the time tomorrow to at least read these two speeches.  Find out what both the Democrats and the Republicans have planned.  Because it will definitely have a direct impact on your life.