Tonight I watched the President give his last state of the union address.
My first impression was it was like watching a pep rally at some affluent high school.
The room seem divided in too 2 separate teams.
 I would guess the sections were made up of Republicans on one side
and Democrats on the other

The cheer leaders (Republican ) were bunched together
and punctuate every line of the Presidents speech with vigorous applauds
and standing ovations.
Except for a few exception of patriotic statements
that were given restrained acknowledgment
The Democrats sat quiet and polite.
I find it hard to believe that all those people clapping their hands
actually believe with every word that Mr. Bush was saying

As for him I will say he came across poised and confident.
But he inserted his" Howdy Doody "smile after some of his statements
when a smile did not seem to be appropriate. punctuation
for what remarks he had just made.

The  first  question that came to my mind was does this man
think he is "Santa Claus?"
Where is all the money going to come from to do all the things he mentioned.

A couple things  he  said that stuck in my mind.
One thing that I did not agree with was this business of taking poor kids
out of failing public schools.
Maybe we should do something to make sure
the failing school are corrected or closed.
A free Public School Education  is a noble idea.
Taking money from the Public School system to send
to private schools is not the answer.
The Public Schools need to be reorganized, refinanced and stop wasting resources .
Teacher need to be evaluated and paid well.
Students need to be taught the basics of Reading , Writing
and Arithmetic in grade school..
 Face it,  not every body is college material.
By middle school they should start teaching things you need to survive
like job and life skills.
High school would have a fast track for those planning to go to college
while others work as apprentices in fieldS they are suited for.
In fact , even if you are going to college it helps to learn a trade
 that you can fall back on until you get a degree.
I was not impressed by the Pell grant idea for non college students.

I was glad to hear they are looking for ways to cut the budget
and do away with programs not needed or wanted anymore.
About time somebody started using the veto on this type spending.
 If President Bush could get the financial mess this economy is  currently  fixed
and cut out the waste and profiteering going on in our government
that would be his crowning glory for his presidency.
We need a flat tax with only a deduction for an amount based on the poverty level.
Simple, easy to understand tax codes.

Maybe we need a lottery rather then voting on people to serve in Congress.
Picked at random from all across the company.
Serve for a couple years with no pensions and other perks.
 Think of how much energy and money that would save.
Get some fresh faces and and  input  from real people who live in the real world.
People are not always poor because they are lazy, stupid, or self indulgent.
Lack of education and opportunity closes a lot of doors.
 

President Bush was talking about Health Care being between the doctor and the patient.
Yet they passed a Drug Insurance program for Medicare
which is doing more harm than good.
If you and your doctor decide a medicine is right for you , you may not get that particular prescription as your insurance company decides that it is too expensive.
The plans are not competitive either. If you have been on a medicine for years
and decide  you want to get on a cheaper plan they make it hard to change plans .
They will make you change to a cheaper medicine
before you can get the medicine you have been using.

I think they are re-thinking the  value  of  a generic prescriptions
because of the lack of consistence in the people making generic medicine .
You can use a generic medicine
and your drug store changes its supplier to save money on cost
You  may  notice the difference in the performance
of the generic drug you are taking.
I think generic medicines only have to match about 70 percent .
 Doctor in an emergency hospital visit told me that one time.

Say  a man has Prostate Cancer and his current hormones shots are failing
he may be prescribed a medicine named "Casodex"
There is no generic or replacement drug for this medicine.
However the Medicare plan will only pay for about 4 to 5 months out of the year
before the patient falls into the " donut hole".
So in addition to a high premium for the plan
 and $70.00 for each doze,
the patient is denied the possible life saving drug for most of the year.
 At $400.00 a prescription most senior citizens  can't afford to pay
 for the medicine  out of their fixed incomes.

 I agree with the president on much of what he said about medical care but he spoiled it by making a statement about not allowing suing for medical malpractice.
With the way things are now days that is the only option left to patient  
who are victims of medical errors and stupidity.

I was impressive to see Mr. Bush with his take charge and "I am the boss" attitude.
threatening  the congress with his veto power if they don't shape up.
Where has that personality been for the last few years?      

As I look back on the last few years and see how much worse we are,
I have to wonder which inmate has been running the asylum.

I think as we are a part of this world ,
we do have to do things to make the world a better place.
 But I think we need to put our own house in order.
Do away with  oppression, hunger, poverty,  and  disease  in our own country.
Next work on  our own hemisphere, especially our neighbors on this continent.
When we have solved our problems expand to include the world.

P.S.  One thing that really got my attention  was after the speech.
there was a talk given by the Governor Kathleen Sebeluin  of Kansas.  
I was impressed by her speech , attitude, deportment
and thought that she just might
be a good  candidate in the future for the  president's job.

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