After hearing the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, it seems the Republicans are trending toward a third consecutive defeat in 2016 at the presidential level.
While Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., offered compelling reasons to challenge the president’s agenda, his underlying message did not adequately address the plight of many Americans in the lower and middle socioeconomic strata, as suggested in
my article days after the election.
He indicated that debt and unemployment remain at unsustainable levels, but his policy prescriptions were deficient in combating the underlying causes. Moreover, the tone of his presentation suggested a lack of empathy for much of the population.
Apparently, the Republicans are not alone in the political wilderness.
According to Chuck Todd, chief White House correspondent for NBC and an MSNBC host and contributor, the political pundits have been deficient in how they prioritize their coverage. Responding to the president’s guide for how we can get “the most bang for our education buck,” Todd claimed the pundits do not typically focus on this issue, even though many people may be very interested.
This is rather extraordinary. Most people are deeply concerned with this issue. The yearly cost of attending many universities, a necessity these days, is close to the annual median household income — clearly an unsustainable path. The president is correct is saying that taxpayers are not willing to continue subsidizing higher education at current levels.
A winning political prescription involves an economic allocation of resources that promotes fair access to opportunities; growth in employment, income and government tax revenue; minimal inflation; and more flexible social policies.
The details of these policies will be provided in my next column.
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