POTUS: Speech on the Economy: A few unconventional suggestions
Speech on the Economy (December 8th 2009)
I can’t say I’d suggest the President speak on this – now. There’s a lot to lose and very little to gain without a home run; but since we’re here.
This speech will impact holiday spending (which is important enough), the State of the Union, which will either be a fight or a coast on the momentum established here. The legislative and electoral agenda forward to midterm are in play as is the President’s reliability, credibility and most importantly; the sheer might of his economic leadership.
How to pull it off?
1) Inspire confidence: This must rank with State of the Union addresses in the inspiration of confidence. Americans MUST feel better about the economy, their future and their personal security or don’t speak.
2) Don’t dally: Move quickly to specific measures targeting the middle/working class.
3) Co-opt the people: Give them a mission to help (not a shopping list).
4) No numbers. Economic and financial terminology will inspire little confidence and less patience. We need the President’s vision now, not a debate or lecture.
5) Show us the road back: to the shining city on the hill! Share an exciting vision of our opportunities for prosperity.
Four Actionables:
1) 3 year trim of immigration (artificially raise the demand for workers).
2) Explosive cash infusion into childhood and adult education (grow our way out of this debt).
3) Target grants for the under-employed and small business.
4) Full Faith & Credit; National Employment portability
(allow people to follow jobs by streamlining their certification or qualification process across state lines).
Confidence follows cadence:
A. Obviously; our economic ‘city on the hill' cannot be suspended on disbelief or secured by closed and guarded ranks. Never has the need been so high for transparency and accountability, never have so many relied; so heavily. Transparency is, has and always shall be; a principal dedication of this administration.
B. The economy is nothing more than the ‘sum of our choices’ over ‘the sum of our hopes’, the latter of which knows no boundary.
We control, if there is such a thing; our economy – together (the path, the wisdom, and even the indulgences). Our confidence, in ourselves and each other and in America is the road forward. We shall choose our future and run at it with the unique American courage, magnanimity and grit that have made us the beacon of…
And so, (particularly as we pick ourselves up from an economic sucker punch); we shall rise confidently in the knowledge that our prosperity may well know no limits, that our capacity may well hold no bounds, that the progress and reinvention that is ‘the American Experiment’ shall endure, shall prevail and shall doubtless triumph…
Where to leave the audience:
(Appeased, proud, committed and confident)
“I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it - still.”
Ronald Reagan
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I can’t say I’d suggest the President speak on this – now. There’s a lot to lose and very little to gain without a home run; but since we’re here.
This speech will impact holiday spending (which is important enough), the State of the Union, which will either be a fight or a coast on the momentum established here. The legislative and electoral agenda forward to midterm are in play as is the President’s reliability, credibility and most importantly; the sheer might of his economic leadership.
How to pull it off?
1) Inspire confidence: This must rank with State of the Union addresses in the inspiration of confidence. Americans MUST feel better about the economy, their future and their personal security or don’t speak.
2) Don’t dally: Move quickly to specific measures targeting the middle/working class.
3) Co-opt the people: Give them a mission to help (not a shopping list).
4) No numbers. Economic and financial terminology will inspire little confidence and less patience. We need the President’s vision now, not a debate or lecture.
5) Show us the road back: to the shining city on the hill! Share an exciting vision of our opportunities for prosperity.
Four Actionables:
1) 3 year trim of immigration (artificially raise the demand for workers).
2) Explosive cash infusion into childhood and adult education (grow our way out of this debt).
3) Target grants for the under-employed and small business.
4) Full Faith & Credit; National Employment portability
(allow people to follow jobs by streamlining their certification or qualification process across state lines).
Confidence follows cadence:
A. Obviously; our economic ‘city on the hill' cannot be suspended on disbelief or secured by closed and guarded ranks. Never has the need been so high for transparency and accountability, never have so many relied; so heavily. Transparency is, has and always shall be; a principal dedication of this administration.
B. The economy is nothing more than the ‘sum of our choices’ over ‘the sum of our hopes’, the latter of which knows no boundary.
We control, if there is such a thing; our economy – together (the path, the wisdom, and even the indulgences). Our confidence, in ourselves and each other and in America is the road forward. We shall choose our future and run at it with the unique American courage, magnanimity and grit that have made us the beacon of…
And so, (particularly as we pick ourselves up from an economic sucker punch); we shall rise confidently in the knowledge that our prosperity may well know no limits, that our capacity may well hold no bounds, that the progress and reinvention that is ‘the American Experiment’ shall endure, shall prevail and shall doubtless triumph…
Where to leave the audience:
(Appeased, proud, committed and confident)
“I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it - still.”
Ronald Reagan
Fort Hood: Suggested Speech
Nov 5th, 2009
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen.
This nation has suffered a disturbing tragedy this afternoon, at a base in central Texas.
A gunman opened fire on soldiers at a Deployment Processing Centre, killing 12 and injuring more than 30. These men and women were exposed and unarmed. 21 Year old Keara Bono was processing to leave for Iraq on Dec 7th. She was shot in the back. Francheska Valez was also shot. She was pregnant. Pfc Aaron Namelka was adding his girlfriend to his will as he hoped to propose before deployment. 62 year old Physician’s assistant Mike Cahill was getting checked for a heart attack he suffered just two weeks ago. He’s survived.
No act, so cowardly and arrogant, so obviously troubled and mean; can ever be done in God’s name, or in human understanding. No explanation will ever mitigate our disgust or fill the void of our collective anguish.
Despite the shock and the horror, despite the gunfire; men and women walked into that Centre and into the night from which some - would not return; in service to each other, in service to us all and in service to an American ideal. The rescue workers responded while the threat was still real and the horror - ever present. In an unwavering dedication that Central Texas has known before, and as time immemorial can attest;
…under the darkest threat or depths of sorrow American character suffers no paralysis.
The victims: whether they walked in at morning’s dawn or after the fire are heroes all.
They and their families have the unwavering respect of the Presidency and the support and comfort of a grateful (albeit mortified) nation.
And now the duty to falls to us: to raise the children left behind and to bear their burdens – and in the character they served and serve us still. This is the way we’ve always struggled, fought or approached one; with regret, restraint, resolve and respect, armed sometimes with only our character, but always therefore with the limitless extent of our uniquely American magnanimity – a nobility and compassion the likes of which must surely impress even God.
There is no doubt in my mind, nor waiver in my confidence that we shall emerge from this darkness stronger, more deeply committed than ever to the causes of human dignity and more confident than ever in the character that has been a hallmark of this dark day.
Thank you.
Read More
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen.
This nation has suffered a disturbing tragedy this afternoon, at a base in central Texas.
A gunman opened fire on soldiers at a Deployment Processing Centre, killing 12 and injuring more than 30. These men and women were exposed and unarmed. 21 Year old Keara Bono was processing to leave for Iraq on Dec 7th. She was shot in the back. Francheska Valez was also shot. She was pregnant. Pfc Aaron Namelka was adding his girlfriend to his will as he hoped to propose before deployment. 62 year old Physician’s assistant Mike Cahill was getting checked for a heart attack he suffered just two weeks ago. He’s survived.
No act, so cowardly and arrogant, so obviously troubled and mean; can ever be done in God’s name, or in human understanding. No explanation will ever mitigate our disgust or fill the void of our collective anguish.
Despite the shock and the horror, despite the gunfire; men and women walked into that Centre and into the night from which some - would not return; in service to each other, in service to us all and in service to an American ideal. The rescue workers responded while the threat was still real and the horror - ever present. In an unwavering dedication that Central Texas has known before, and as time immemorial can attest;
…under the darkest threat or depths of sorrow American character suffers no paralysis.
The victims: whether they walked in at morning’s dawn or after the fire are heroes all.
They and their families have the unwavering respect of the Presidency and the support and comfort of a grateful (albeit mortified) nation.
And now the duty to falls to us: to raise the children left behind and to bear their burdens – and in the character they served and serve us still. This is the way we’ve always struggled, fought or approached one; with regret, restraint, resolve and respect, armed sometimes with only our character, but always therefore with the limitless extent of our uniquely American magnanimity – a nobility and compassion the likes of which must surely impress even God.
There is no doubt in my mind, nor waiver in my confidence that we shall emerge from this darkness stronger, more deeply committed than ever to the causes of human dignity and more confident than ever in the character that has been a hallmark of this dark day.
Thank you.
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