Official SOTU transcript released today

Acc-Span Washington DC:

President Barack Obama released the transcripts of Monday's State of the Union Address:

Vice President Biden, Madame Speaker, Members of
Congress, distinguished guests and fellow Americans:

I awoke this morning with great excitement.
As I prepared for the day, I remembered my esteemed duty.
And as I just now walked to stand in front of you all, I
became surrounded by tranquil pride. Pride for my nation,
my countrymen, and for the future of which I am about to
speak.

Americans: We have achieved change through recent
legislation. Sprouted from hope each and every American
will now never fear becoming ill for financial reasons.
Instead, they can focus on healing and those who cannot
heal will live their last days in peace; knowing that they
will not leave their loved ones in debt. Our children will
never be denied treatment; your brother will be able to afford

his medication. But what about your mother?
Your grandmother?
Should they not also be allowed quality care when they can no
longer fend for themselves? Why is it that you and I can afford
healthcare, yet our parents and their parents before them cannot
afford care in their elderly and immobile years? The answer is
simple: because we haven’t yet made it so.

We have before us a stepping stone that can, with careful
masonry, pave the way to an impressive road of
accomplishment. Changes in health care took a long time
to achieve, let’s not wait longer to protect the future of
our cherished ones’ elderly stages of life; a future that we
will all, let’s face it (chuckle), eventually encounter.

Not only are private care facilities costly, they are often
times dangerous. Do you want to place your grandmother
into an institution where her chances of being abused,
exploited, or neglected are extremely high? If she does,
infact, experience such adversity and is unable to speak
for herself, who will defend her?
We will. Through detailed legislation we can create safe,
reliable and affordable institutions for our older
Americans. Let us improve upon the change we’ve already
made and perfect the America that you and I have all dreamed
of. Let us love our mothers and fathers such as they loved us
and ensure to them an enjoyable life after youth.

Now…I would like to address the issue that we all want to
tackle: unemployment. Many of you are concerned at the
newest employment situation summary that was released this
Friday. Rightfully you should be, but let me highlight some
inspiring facts.

The number of unemployed persons has finally slowed.
In fact, March’s unemployment rate was little changed from
that of February. Perhaps this doesn’t seem like a step up,
but I believe it things will surely begin to improve. When it
comes to the marginally attached, only a small change was
detected from last year’s discouraged workers and this year’s.
This means that people are still looking. Now is not the time
to give up! Now is the time to press on more than ever before!
With employment in fields such as health care, mining, and
federal government increasing, it’s evident that we can sustain
attainable employment. But what about those of us who are
not doctors or senators? What can we do?

At one time in America’s history we faced this very same
dilemma, and the answer then is the same answer now:
the launch of economic recovery programs. President
Roosevelt created, in his genius, hundreds of programs
that provided work stability for unemployed Americans.
I can think of no better time than now to continue this
practice and start providing employment to able Americans.

Now I know that the Republicans in this room are
unsupportive of such a controversial suggestion, but let
me ask you this: Do you know a fellow friend or family
member who is unemployed? Have you consoled someone
while they sobbed over a lost mortgage or expressed worry
over how their children would get to school because just
yesterday the family vehicle repossessed? If you haven’t,
you are lucky, but rest assured that those sad days will soon
come. That is, if we unless we do something about it!

This is the time to decide if you will be your brother’s
keeper, or exile him into preventable suffering. Work with
me as I help your brother stand on his two feet again; for
I see the people of this nation as rightful recipients of
happiness, not as unequal groups of democrats and
republicans. Unite with me on this front and together we
can get this nation to once again stand tall.

I’m going to tell you now that I will not pass legislation
requesting the lowering of taxes, for they will be the aid
in providing the afore mentioned programs that I plan to
create. I will, however, meet you on some productive
middle ground in which the people of this nation are
helped, and never hindered. Cooperation from all parties
is what’s needed to improve this pressing issue.
Our futures lay before us unknown, but I do not want
them to remain unplanned. Let us make a plan, a plan that
every American can be proud to have been a part of; a plan
that our future generations will thank us for.

Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless the U.S of A.