Southeast Missouri State University student publication

8 points from Trump's SOTU speech (ft. liberal commentary)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

1. Job creation skyrocketing

Last year alone, Trump said his administration created 2.4 million jobs and 2,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. (See deportation numbers here).

2.Trump said the economy is booming.

Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low, Trump said. African American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded, and he added that Hispanic unemployment lowest rate in history. Trump said the government slashed the business tax rate from 35% to 20-21%. Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history. (Giving tax cuts to businesses and the wealthy, taking credit for the hard work of American citizens who find their own jobs and building a wall on the backs of the working man. That’s the Trump Way!!)

3. Prison system reform

Plans to spend 2018 reforming prisons and give former inmates a “second chance at life.” He said the government will also be keeping Guantanamo Bay open. Trump then mentioned that he has sent thousands of MS-13 people out of this country or into our prisons. He then quickly pivoted into a discussion about illegal immigrants. (The timing here is just remarkable. What are you insinuating, Mr. President?)

4. Unifying the American people

Trump is dedicated to the unification of the American people, stating his “highest loyalty, greatest passion, constant concern” is for America’s children and forgotten communities. “Every background, color, religion and creed.” (Unless you’re an immigrant, black, hispanic, woman or really any other marginalized group).

5. Immigration reform

Mentioned as a negative part of current immigration policies, Trump spotlighted “chain migration,” or what supporters of immigration policies know as “family reunification.” This policy allows an immigrant to sponsor extended family members for visas, but only after that person has become a citizen.

Trump said 1.8 million illegal immigrants will now have a safe path to citizenship. Under the new plan, however, only those who meet education and work requirements and show good moral character will be able to enter the country after a 12-year period. (So...once they’re old enough to need a job and be accused of stealing American opportunities will they be able to begin the process of seeing their families again. Seems fair.)

6. CNN reported that this SOTU assembly could have seen the greatest boycott of any SOTU speech ever.

CNN reported many members of the Congressional Black Caucus boycotted Trump’s SOTU speech, and the rest of the members united to attend the address in their Afrocentric clothing and RECY buttons to “stare racism in the face.”

Cedric Richmond is a Democrat from Louisiana who told CNN that Trump has made the country “less safe for people of color” and said the only way for Trump to project unity in the country during his SOTU address was to apologize. (I did not boycott the speech, but I did yell profanities from my boyfriend’s couch).

7. The opioid crisis is bad, make prescription drugs cheaper and more abundant

In 2016, Trump said 64,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, 174 deaths per day, 7 per hour. “We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge.”

He also mentioned how the Federal Drug Administration approved more new and generic drugs and medical devices in 2017 than ever before, and he wants to reduce the price of prescription drugs. (Drugs are bad. Oh, and here, have more).

8. North Korea poses a threat to “America and our allies”

Trump is concerned about the oppression of North Korea as a dictatorship and the threat of its nuclear missiles. “North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland,” he said. He added that the United States is waging a maximum pressure campaign to prevent the threat from ever coming to fruition. (Fruition was my ten-cent word, not his.)

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