Overall, I thought it was a good speech, albeit there being some points of policy I do not agree on. The purpose of the State of the Union address, as I see it, is to assess what we have done, where we are because of it, and evaluate where we are going to go. This means broad, often somewhat vague long-term goals, and then more on-point short term goals.

Domestic Policy:
-Strengthening community colleges is a good idea. They are pretty good, and very cheap. That’s an avenue that a lot of people don’t think about that can be used as a source to up the average education level in the U.S. where some people could not afford higher education.
-I totally disagree on immigration. You cannot let other workers in before you control the illegal immigration problem. Once you have stunted that problem, then you can consider how to allow good workers in. Congress recently allowed for up to 10,000 new troops to be acquired within 5 years, but they are not appropriating even enough money to fund 2000 of them.
-Social Security. I totally agree that something should be done now. I’m glad President Bush used rhetoric that emphasized that all options are on the table that will help make the system solvent. And while I’d personally like to never pay into the system, I prefer doing something now before even more money is squandered.
-Health care. Deregulate small practices. What this has done for the poor people of Chile is remarkable. Just by doing this, and getting rid of junk lawsuits, doctors will be able to offer more expensive services for much cheaper. That’s all there is to it.
-Taxes. Alright, this is a prayer. God, all I’m asking for is a flat tax of 15%. This alone, I think, will solve most economic problems of the United States for our lifetimes.

Foreign Policy:
Outstanding, I think. He did not elaborate on Condi’s “Outposts of Tyranny,” but the specific message to the Iranian people that we’ll be there with them when they seek independence sent chills down my spine.

I don’t think we’ll be taking a strong, stern policy right away. That would be totally reckless. We have to approach each situation individually when the time approaches. The pressure we’re putting on some countries to reform will be enough for them to do so. Others, who knows? Maybe military action on different levels will be needed. In others, funding of NGOs and opposition parties may be enough, with backup when revolution time finally hits. It is different for every single case, so you can not handle every country the same.

However, I am looking forward to the next four years. A reminder that the full text is here.