We Need a New Vision for America

WE NEED A NEW VISION FOR AMERICA

Tonight the President delivered the annual State of the Union address. Sadly, he decided to ignore some of the most important issues facing the American people. The President choose not to discuss the issue of concentration of wealth and income in America, the real state of jobs and the economy, and how our health care system is disintegrating.

The most important economic issue facing America is the decline of the middle class. Millions of Americans today are working longer hours for lower wages, and are worried about whether they will be able to afford health insurance, prescription drugs, housing or a college education for their kids. Unfortunately, most of President Bush's long term agenda is designed to help the wealthy and large corporations, and not ordinary Americans.

President Bush is refusing to raise the minimum wage, change our disastrous trade policies which are costing us large numbers of decent paying manufacturing jobs or end his effort to eliminate overtime pay for 8 million workers. My hope for the coming year is that Congress will be successful in protecting the needs of the average American, and not just wealthy campaign contributors.

The good news is that more and more Americans are waking up to the fact that the Bush Administration is wreaking havoc with our economy, our health care, our environment and our civil liberties. Congress must work harder to make America work for all Americans.