President Biden frequently expressed throughout his remarks the idea of togetherness and the necessity for uniting the nation together, as well as the progress America has made and the progress we still need to make.
During his State of the Union address, President Biden made calls to unite the country to fix its economy, the idea of maintaining democracy and our pride, the importance of health care, and our country’s support for Ukraine.
When asked by world leaders how he would describe America in one word, President Biden said “possibilities.” Biden urged the country that Democrats and Republicans can work together. Many on both sides don’t believe this possibility. However, it is possible, and it’s happened before.
“Over the past two years, we’ve proved the cynics and the naysayers wrong,” President Biden stated.
Biden called himself a President for all Americans.
He emphasized that when people or communities are “left behind,” we cannot reach our limitless possibilities.
The President emphasized how unfair parts of the economy are, from our tax system to high insulin prices—President Biden made calls to set a tax rate on billion-plus dollar companies, as well as to lower costs of necessity medications.
“I’m a capitalist,” Biden said. “But just pay your fair share. And I think a lot of you at home agree with me that our present tax system is simply unfair. The idea that in 2020, 55 of the biggest companies in America made $40 billion in profits and paid zero in federal income taxes? That’s simply not fair.”
Biden expressed his anger at high insulin prices, saying, “Every day, millions need insulin to control their diabetes so they can stay alive. Insulin has been around for 100 years. It costs drug companies just $10 a vial to make.” Biden continued, “But Big Pharma has been unfairly charging people hundreds of dollars and making record profits.”
Biden made several calls to make progress in his speech. “Not anymore,” he said. President Biden announced a cap to the price of insulin at $35 per vial. Biden made sure that everyone who needs life-saving medication can afford it.
The President also announced that this price cap also lowers the prices of life-saving medical treatment for cancer patients.
As inflation is high on many necessities and is an issue all Americans fear, President Biden said, “If drug prices rise faster than inflation, drug companies will have to pay Medicare back the difference.
In addition to the drug companies, of the most profited industries this past year was Big Oil, which “reported record profits,” Biden said. “Last year, they made $200 billion in the midst of a global energy crisis. It’s outrageous.”
Biden emphasized that oil companies in America don’t invest much of their profit in domestic products, keeping the price high.
President Biden announced a just-signed bill where billion-dollar companies are required to pay 15% in taxes. Biden urged the American people to believe everyone must pay their fair share.
Biden made calls to “reward work, not just wealth.” Urging congress to pass his bill on a minimum billionaire tax.
The necessity of buying American products over imported ones could not have been emphasized enough by Mr. Biden.
But these remarks Biden made were met with many skeptics in the crowd.
At one point during his remarks, the camera panned in on congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO), shaking her head in disagreement. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a fierce ally of former President Donald Trump, shouted “liar!” towards the podium as Mr. Biden was making his remarks—the President did not acknowledge any of the “cynics and naysayers” in the crowd. Mr. Biden knew those types of people in congress, like Representatives Greene and Boebert, weren’t willing to work on pieces of bi-partisan legislation he introduced.
President Biden didn’t just make calls to unite Americans. He made a call for continued support for Ukraine.
Biden recalled that he “spoke from this chamber one year ago, just days after Vladimir Putin unleashed his brutal war against Ukraine. A murderous assault, evoking images of the death and destruction Europe suffered in World War II. Putin’s invasion has been a test for the ages. A test for America. A test for the world.”
Biden asked the nation in his speech if sovereignty is something we stand for, against all tyranny. Biden made sure the people of Ukraine would have our full support, and we will help them until they have their freedoms back.
The President made calls that we are in this together, saying, “we are the United States of America, and there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.”
