Every year the State of the Union address offers the President a unique opportunity to set and sell his agenda to the Congress and the American people. On Tuesday President George W. Bush successfully took advantage of that opportunity, reminding all Americans why we re-elected him: to wage the war on terror. Unfortunately, some parts of his domestic agenda were lacking in substance, and many residents of the Gulf Coast were left feeling lacking.
Evidently, America has an addiction problem. No, our addiction is not to drugs, alcohol or even junk food; the culprit is oil.
“Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy,” Bush explained in the speech. “Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.”
Granted, the rising cost of energy does present the United States with a considerable challenge. However, the addiction analogy fails and conveys the wrong message to the world. Is the United States some kind of junkie looking for its next fix of oil?
Oil is more like air to the U.S. economy: without it the economy would suffocate. It’s not a mere addiction that needs breaking. Until we’re given viable alternatives, it’s a necessity. Maybe one day we will no longer need oil for the economic engine to function as we do air to breathe. As of now, that day isn’t even imaginable.
“The best way to break this addiction is through technology,” Bush said. “Since 2001, we have spent nearly $10 billion to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources – and we are on the threshold of incredible advances.”
Since the 1970’s the federal government has poured millions of dollars into programs designed to find an alternative to oil and have little to show for it. The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of picking the next new technology. Instead the government should remove hindering regulation and let the free market work.
The real energy priority of the federal government should be to open up more areas for domestic production. For years, demand for oil and gas has skyrocketed, while the rate of domestic production has remained flat. It is past time for Congress to open up promising, restricted areas in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off the coast to drilling and exploration. For the foreseeable future, the only way that we will end our dependence on Middle Eastern oil is through increased domestic production. I hope the fact that the President failed to even mention increased domestic production as a solution to the problem isn’t a sign that this administration is giving up on its previous efforts to increase domestic production.
Citizens of the Gulf Coast have reason to be dismayed at another missing portion of the President’s speech. Only 43 seconds of his 51-minute speech was dedicated to the recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast. This passing mention demonstrates how many in the federal government have simply moved on since Katrina, believing they have done enough.
“So far the federal government has committed $85 billion to the people of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans,” Bush said. “We are removing debris, repairing highways and building stronger levees. We are providing business loans and housing assistance. Yet as we meet these immediate needs, we must also address deeper challenges that existed before the storm arrived. In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country.”
It is becoming increasingly clear that we can’t expect any additional help from the feds until we help ourselves. The President should have spent more time discussing the problems in Louisiana, but we can’t expect the federal government to pour money into a endless hole of corruption and incompetence. The burden is on the shoulders of leaders. Unfortunately we have to wait another year and a half to throw them out of office if they are unable to carry that burden.
While there was plenty in the President’s speech to complain about, it also reminded us of why it is so important that he occupies the White House instead of Sen. John Kerry. Bush reminded us that victory over terrorism lies in vigilance and perseverance, not retreat.
“If there are people inside our country who are talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it – because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again,” Bush said, closing his defense of surveillance of those in the United States talking with al Qaeda operatives abroad.
In response to this statement, Republicans stood and cheered, but the Democrats in attendance remained seated, apparently not in agreement with the sentiment. The inaction of the Democrats spoke louder than any words of the President’s State of the Union address, showing why we are safer with Bush as the Commander-in-Chief.
Jason is a second year law student. Contact him at [email protected]