State of the Union

So a couple of days ago, the USA was treated to the final State of the Union address by the current 'lame duck' president George W.(the name they give to a president who is leaving office at the next election). Of course, there are some that would argue that he was a bit of a lame duck throughout the last seven years he has been in the White House. Who am i to disagree? The general consensus from what i have read is that the ideas and issues presented and 'discussed' in the speech were pretty much recycled ones from the past few years - it seems that the Bush administration is becoming 'environmentally friendly' after all. The major difference was talk of the 'economic stimulus' package that is hoped to be passed in the coming weeks - an attempt to bolster the US economy by getting people to spend money. Of course, the increased panic caused by the recent half point decrease in interest rates to go with the three quarter point decrease of a few days prior hasn't really helped (the largest drop in the shortest period of time in US history so i believe). So what, really, is the State of the Union??

1. A struggling economy and a collapsing house market.
2. A rich-poor divide that has grown in the last few years.
3. A war in Iraq, costing an estimated $10 billion a month.
4. A markedly diminished reputation around the world.
5. Issues with immigrants that are suggested to be solved by 'building a big fence'
6. Large numbers of citizens without healthcare
7. One of the largest national debts in US history
8. A president who is openly mocked by US comedians and others around the world.

Now this is just a small number of things that spring to mind, or a cursory browse around the internet can find. I'm sure there are many other issues/problems that are still yet to be considered or addressed. It seems that the State of the Union is a bit of a mess. With the oncoming elections in November, will things only get better? Let's hope so because i just don't know what will happen if they get worse.