I read through the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/full-transcript-biden-sotu/index.html" source="CNN" author="Biden Administration">Full transcript of Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address</a>. Since I read it, it's now been annotated to death. When I read it, it was just a transcript. It's quite a piece of work. I had to check a few times to see whether I was reading the state of the union of the U.S.A. Joe Biden describes a country with policies that I don't recognize. He describes a functioning democracy that is surging with greatness and getting amazing things done for everyone. And, at the same time, he's apologetic about how bad things still are---but everything will be better soon. <img attachment="tryandstopusamericasimpsons.jpg" align="right">You literally couldn't publicly disagree with most of what Biden said in at least the first half of the speech. He talked about amazing social programs that are either already underway---or are coming very soon. As expected, his foreign policy---which took up only a small portion of the speech---was purely warlike, but equally fantastical as the rest of it. Like any other SOTU, though, absolutely none of this fairy tale will come true. To save you the trouble of reading through it, here's my summary. <ol> America is back on top<ul> America was never <i>not</i> on top</ul> Dems and Reps working hand in hand<ul> bi-partisan, obviously</ul> The middle class is suffering<ul> The working class is suffering, too</ul> But chips are coming back!<ul> All manufacturing is coming back! It's already here!</ul> Infrastructure is being rebuilt as we speak Also, buy American! Urban. Suburban. Rural. Tribal.<ul> Um, what?</ul> Being poor sucks Medicine is too expensive<ul> Especially insulin</ul> Big Pharma sucks<ul> Gonna stop 'em</ul> Electric cars rule Big companies don't pay taxes<ul> They should, though</ul> Big deficits suck<ul> Trump made big deficits Let's all not even remember why, though</ul> Social Security and Medicare are safe We really need to raise taxes on the rich Shipping costs were too high.<ul> Not anymore! Cut by 90%</ul> Junk fees suck<ul> Credit cards put on a leash Airlines put on a leash Ticketing, everything, put on a leash with Junk Fee Prevention Act</ul> Non-competes suck<ul> Get rid of 'em!</ul> Unions are good<ul> So let people start 'em Pass the PRO act</ul> Restore the Child Tax Credit More home-care services for seniors and people with disabilities More school!<ul> Pre-K will make the difference</ul> Give public-school teachers a raise COVID is under control Fight fraud and tax-evasion Police should stop killing black people We ask too much of police.<ul> They're under stress.</ul> Moar gun safety. Stop unlawful immigration<ul> It's down 97% But it's still not fixed?</ul> Also, drugs are bad<ul> Drug war, baby! This time it'll work.</ul> C'mon with the banning abortions<ul> Not on Joe's watch</ul> 3/4 of the way through, and we're finally ready for Ukraine<ul> We are unbelievably fucking awesome there No points off We did absolutely every thing right that could possibly be done right It's absolutely uncanny how amazing we are You wouldn't think it would be possible, but here we are You can't argue with facts We're done with Ukraine pretty quickly</ul> China's on the shit list, too<ul> We've got our eye on you, China The world appreciates it Just competition, not conflict, though We mos def have to win against China though Not just for the U.S.A., but for the world's own good</ul> Drugs are pretty bad<ul> So is cancer-causing pollution</ul> And, Christ, that Big Tech preying on our kids<ul> That's gotta stop</ul> Veterans killing themselves is also <i>no bueno</i> Cancer, though, what a sonofabitch, ammirite? Extremism and hate is bad, too<ul> Poor Paul Pelosi</ul> Now is the time for the U.S.A.<ul> God loves us best</ul> <iq>May God bless you all. May God protect our troops.</iq> </ol>