Since the birth of our nation, the State of the Union address has been an annually anticipated reassurance by the leader of the United States that the country is doing swell, or in some cases better than ever. The whole purpose of the address is for the president to update the people about key issues that the United States is involved in both domestically and abroad and how we have been, or may aim to tackle these issues in a legislative manner. In theory, the State of the Union is a sound way to restore American confidence and discuss the political agenda for the upcoming year. However, our current political system is so focused on portraying a pleasing image that State of the Union rhetoric offers only overarching topics and plans rather than ones of substance.
After an hour or so of watching Speaker of the House Paul Ryan trying to keep a neutral face, laughing at the sleepy elders in the audience that the camera just so happened to pan to, and listening to Democrats rave in response to Obama’s suggestions, I started to figure out what the White House most likely calls the “State of the Union formula.” With a cup of key words that Democrats like to hear, a generous helping of optimism, and a sprinkle of political humor, you too can give a State of the Union address! Here are the top trigger topics to ensure your speech is successful.
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Equality
Equal pay, equal opportunity in the workplace, equal treatment by police, you name it. Equality is one of the most essential topics to talk about in your State of the Union address. You may want to add something about how you are working on investigating diversity in police departments or schools.
Reform
Obama mentioned some stuff about immigration and criminal justice reform, followed by applause, so you should too. It remains unclear as to how the administration is going to reform these systems, or when for that matter, but we do know that people like change and change is good, right? In all seriousness, all the major social movements of the 60s that gained constitutional recognition were centered about reform, so it must count for something.
Technology
It’s 2016 and there’s robots delivering our packages so there’s no question that advancements in technology should be a part of your State of the Union speech. Some key talking points should include how we should take advantage of such advancements to fight terrorists, secure our borders and cure diseases.
Climate
Even though citizens in the North East were certainly not complaining about the 75-degree weather on Christmas, global warming continues to be a major issue across the globe. To ease the concerns of fellow Americans, speak about how the United States is working with other nations to improve environmental conditions. Other key phrases include solar energy and reducing emissions.
Economy
“Anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction.” In Obama’s recent State of the Union address, he spoke a lot about the strength of the economy and attempted to debunk any claims that preached otherwise. An exceptional State of the Union must not tell the American people that they are screwed, but instead encourage them to buy more Powerball tickets.
Health Care
In Obama’s eyes, Obama Care is his crowning achievement, so of course the president is going to praise the accomplishments of the health care plan and discuss how it has been beneficial. You may not be Obama, but you should talk about improving health care too. Be sure to appeal to all parties. You can’t leave the wealthy concerned over their accessibility to doctors, but you can’t tell the poor that there is a hefty amount of dollar signs attached to getting the medical attention they need. Virtually, it’s impossible to really please ‘em all, but remember this is just a speech; you’re not actually acting on your word.
Power
America is the greatest country in the world and you should not suggest that it is anything less during your State of the Union address. During this portion of the speech, be sure to talk about our strong military and applaud our troops. Republican or Democrat, everyone loves a good moment of appreciation for our soldiers. Tell the people that we know what we’re doing and that America is the solution to every pressing problem in the world.
Security
In the dangerous world we live in today, security is one of the biggest concerns that must be addressed during the State of the Union. Securing the borders to prevent entrance to potentially dangerous foreigners and ending the threat of terrorism once and for all are popular topics of discussion. Do tell the people that we won’t stop until the world is safe but that the United States of America is immune from total destruction.
Future
The future should be mentioned throughout all of your main topics of discussion and should overall be the focus of your State of the Union address. The past is a good thing to talk about too; it is important to reflect on what has been accomplished. But let’s be honest, no one knows what we’re doing right now. We are faced with so many problems that we’d like to say we know how to approach, but we really don’t. So tell America that we are going to fix the problems, in the future progressive tense, and that one day things will be better. You can’t spell America without overdue promises.State of the Union Address 2016 https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/0...
