President Barack Obama touched on a variety of issues-- energy, jobs, technology, climate change and the middle class-- in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. Yahoo News asked voters to respond to his speech. Here's one perspective.
COMMENTARY | I listened to the speech, both as a citizen and as an investment advisor. As an investment advisor, I heard the words "give" and "raise" mentioned quite often, and seldom heard anything about cutting expenses. I am disturbed by our budget deficit, increasing debt ceiling and the fact that sovereign risk is no longer an automatic AAA.
As a citizen, I heard the president speak about passing legislation that all Americans who have paid their mortgages on time, and have good credit, would be able to refinance and take advantage of low interest rates. I have great credit and am current on my mortgage but cannot refinance and his legislation will not benefit me at all. My mortgage is not owned by the any of the government entities and the legislation does not address my needs, as well as the millions of others in similar circumstances.
Obama also spoke about gun control and he saved the best for last. I am undecided on the issue, but I do know that statistically, 27 deaths in a year do not make a difference. However, when you personalize a death, be it one, or 27, it speaks to our sympathies. No one wants to see people murdered, at least I don't. What I do want is a politician who can see the underlying issue and not the headline. That is what bothers me so much about the politicizing of the Newtown tragedy; after all, I live in Connecticut and don't think that in my lifetime, the tragedy will ever be forgotten.
