In this week’s address, President Obama called Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, Wisconsin an example of how America can win the future by being the best place on Earth to do business. Orion was able to open with the help of small business loans and incentives that are creating demand for clean energy technologies. By sparking innovation and spurring new products and technologies, America will unleash the talent and ingenuity of American workers and businesses, which will lead to new, good jobs.
A while back, I stated clean energy was our way forward and was our "to the moon" moment. Or as the President said in his STOU Tuesday night, this is our "Sputnik moment". I think this is the future and we should all embrace it.
Let's just hope the rest of the country gets behind this too.
President Obama discusses the steps he is taking to make America competitive in the short and long terms, and why he chose GE CEO Jeff Immelt to head up the new Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
I have read some reports that there was confusion why the president choose Immelt to lead this new board. But my thoughts are this... Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Immelt has been critical of the President in the past and this way, it is nullified.
We don't need someone to bash the Administration all over, we need someone with constructive ideas and innovation to keep the forward momentum going. Immelt may be just the person to do this. He is pushing green technology, green jobs and such at GE, why not use him to push other companies into doing the same thing.
In this week’s address, President Obama said that once business resumes in Washington, he looks forward to working with members of both parties to meet the challenges facing the country. By working together in a spirit of common cause, the President and members of Congress can face these challenges in a way worthy of the voters who sent them to Washington.
I hope we can all remember to be at least civil to each other in the time going forward. Even if the ones on the right don't want to be civil, we must set the example.
The President touts the new benefits coming from the tax cut compromise for any business large or small, tens of millions of workers and families, and the economy itself.
In his weekly address, President Obama looked forward to how the tax cut package he signed into law in December will benefit millions of Americans in the new year. For one year, any business, large or small, can write off the full cost of most of their capital investments. The payroll tax cut will mean $1,000 more this year for a typical family – 155 million workers will see larger paychecks because of that tax cut. Twelve million families will benefit from a $1,000 child tax credit and an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. And eight million students and families will continue to benefit from a $2,500 tuition tax credit. Independent experts have concluded that the tax cut package should significantly accelerate the pace of the recovery.
This is good news about the jobs this week, however we can't depend on the numbers continuing this way. I think that's why the President isn't shouting louder about this. We all know the numbers fluctuate from week to week and month to month. But this is good news. The trend is still upward and that's the main thing. We are making progress and we have to keep the forward momentum going.
Even though the tax cut package was so hated by those on the left, it is a good thing for the middle class and I am sure the President will keep his word on fighting against the upper class cuts in 2 years. We have to work and make sure he has a Congress behind him when he is re-elected. That's our goal for the next 2 years.
I still have faith and confidence in our President and hope that others will see he is the man for the job and is doing the very best he can. Even if we don't always like the process, he is getting things done.
The President resolves to do all he can to get the economy growing and create jobs, and encourages Republicans to embrace their new responsibility to govern.
Happy New Year to you all. May this year be even better than last, and not as good as next.
