President Barack Obama's Final State of the Union as Yoda Would Have Said It

Tuesday night, President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. Given that he will never have the chance to deliver such an important speech ever again, we figured we’d give Obama’s last effort the respect it deserves: translating it into Yoda-speak. Because everyone is really wondering, “The state of the union sound in Yoda-speak, how would, hmm?”

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice president, of Congress members, my fellow Americans: Tonight marks the eighth year that, come here to report on the state of the union, have I. And for this final one, going to try to make it a little shorter, am I.

I know some of, antsy to get back to Iowa, you are.

Been there, I have. Shaking hands afterwards if you want some tips will I be.

Now, that, I understand that because it is an election season, achieve this year are low, expectations for what we will. But, Mr. Speaker, to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families I appreciate the constructive approach that you and other leaders took at the end of last year.

So work together this year on some bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform, I hope we can, and helping…

… And battling prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse, helping people who are.

So who knows. We might surprise the cynics again.

But tonight, I go easy on the traditional list of proposals for the year ahead want to. Worry, do not, got plenty, have I, to write computer code to personalizing medical treatments for patients from helping students learn.

And keep pushing for progress on the work that I believe still needs to be done, I will: Fixing a broken immigration system…

… Our kids from gun violence protecting, for equal work equal pay, paid leave, raising the minimum wage.

To hardworking families all these things — all these things still matter. Still the right thing to do, they are, and I will let up until they get done not. But to this chamber for my final address, to just talk about next year I want not. I focus on the next five years want to, the next 10 years and beyond. I focus on our future want to.

Reshaping the way we live, we live in a time of extraordinary change — change that is, the way we work, our planet, our place in the world. Change that promises amazing medical breakthroughs, it is, but also economic disruptions that strain working families.

For girls in the most remote villages it promises education, but also connects terrorists, plotting an ocean away. Change that can broaden opportunity, it is, or widen inequality. And like it or not whether we, only accelerate, the pace of this change will.

Been through big changes before — wars and depression, America has, of new immigrants the influx, for a fair deal workers fighting, to expand civil rights movements.

Each time, been those who told us to fear the future, there have, slam the brakes on change, who claimed we could, threatening America under control, who promised to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was. And each time, we overcame those fears.we did not, of Lincoln in the words, to the dogmas of the quiet past adhere. Instead we thought anew and acted anew.

For us we made change work, always extending America’s promise outward, to the next frontier, to more people. And because we did, because we saw opportunity where others saw peril, we emerged stronger and better than before.

What was true then, true now, can be. As a nation — our optimism and work ethic our unique strengths, of discovery our spirit, our diversity, to rule of law — these things give us everything we need to ensure prosperity and security for generations to come our commitment.

In fact, it is in that spirit that, made the progress these past seven years, have we. How we recovered from the worst economic crisis in generations, that is.

How we reformed our healthcare system and reinvented our energy sector, that is.

How — that is how we — that is how we delivered more care and benefits to our troops coming home and our veterans, that is.

How we — that is — that is how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love, that is.

But inevitable such progress is not. The result of choices we make together, it is. And we face such choices right now. We respond to the changes of our time with fear, will, as a nation turning inward, as a people turning against each other, hmm? Or we face the future with confidence in who we are, will, in what we stand for, and do together, the incredible things we can, hmm? So talk about the future, let us, and to answer, four big questions that I believe we as a country have, or who controls the next Congress, regardless of who the next president is.

First, how we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy, hmm?

Second, how, technology work for us, make we, and not against us, especially, hmm when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change?

Third, how we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman, hmm?

And finally, our politics reflect what’s best in us, how can we make, and not what’s worst, hmm?

Me start with the economy and a basic fact let. Of America the United States, right now, has the strongest, most durable economy in the world.

In the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs, are we, of job growth since the 1990s the strongest two years, an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever.

Just part of a manufacturing surge that is created nearly 900,000 new jobs in the past six years, that is. And done all this while cutting our deficits by almost three-quarters, we have.

Peddling fiction, anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is. Now…

That the economy has been changing in profound ways, what is true — and the reason that much Americans feel anxious — is, changes that started long before the great recession hit, changes that have let up not. Today, technology justs replace jobs on the assembly line not, but any job where work, automated, can be. Locate anywhere, companies in a global economy can, and they face tougher competition.

As result, less leverage for a raise, workers have. Less loyalty to their communities, companies have. And concentrated at the very top, more and more wealth and income is.

Squeezed workers, all these trends have, even when they have jobs, even when the economy is growing. Made it harder for a hardworking family to pull itself out of poverty, it is, to start their careers harder for young people, to retire tougher for workers when they want to. and unique to America, although none of these trends are, get a fair shot, they do offend our uniquely American belief that everybody who works hard should.

For the past seven years, been a growing economy that also works better for everybody, our goal has. Made progress, we have, but to make more we need. And despite all the political arguments that, had these past few years, have we, actually some areas where Americans broadly agree, there are.

To get the education and training they need to land a good-paying job we agree that real opportunity requires every American. An important start, the bipartisan reform of no child left behind was, and together, increased early childhood education, we have, to new highs lifted high school graduation rates, like engineering boosted graduates in fields.

In the coming years, build on that progress, we should, for all and offering every student by providing pre-k…

… Offering every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job-ready on day one. Recruit and support more great teachers for our kids, we should.

And — and, to make college affordable for every American, have we.

Be stuck in the red, no hardworking student should. Already reduced student loan payments by — to 10 percent of a borrower’s income, have we. And good that is. But actually got to cut the cost of college, now we have.

One of the best ways to do that, providing two years of community college at no cost for every responsible student is, and going to keep fighting to get that started this year, I am. The right thing to do, is it.

But all we need in this new economy a great education is not. We also need benefits, and of security protections that provide a basic measure. It is too much of a stretch to say that some of the only people in America who are going to work the same job not, with a health in the same place, and sitting in this chamber, a retirement package for 30 years are. For everyone else, their 40s and 50s especially folks in, for retirement saving, or gotten a lot tougher, bouncing back from job loss has. Their careers Americans understand that at some point in, this new economy in, to retool, they may have, to retrain, they may have, but lose what they have already worked so hard to build in the process they should not.

Why social security and medicare are more important than ever that is, we should weaken them not, strengthen them, we should.

And for American short of retirement, today, basic benefits should be just as mobile as everything else is.

That, by the way, all about, is what the affordable care act is. About filling the gaps in employer based care so that, it is when you lose a job, or to school you go back, or you strike out and launch that new business, still have coverage, you will. Gained coverage so far, nearly 18 million people have, and in the process…

Slowed, in the process health care inflation has, created jobs every single month since it became law, our businesses have.

Now, agree on healthcare anytime soon I am guessing we will not.

Little applause right there.

Just a guess.

But be other ways parties can work together improve economic security, there should. His job say a hardworking American loses, we should just make sure he can get unemployment insurance not; we should make sure that program encourages him to retrain for a business, ready to hire him, that is. If that new job pays as much not, there should be a system of wage insurance in place so that, still pay his bills, can he. And even if, going from job to job, is he, still be able to save for retirement and take his savings with him, he should. The way we make the new economy work better for everybody, that is.

Talked about his interest in tackling poverty, I also know Speaker Ryan has. About giving everybody willing to work a chance, America is, hand up, and welcome a serious discussion about strategies we can all support, I would, like expanding tax cuts for low-income workers who have not children.

But some areas where we just have to be honest, there are. Been more difficult to find agreement over the last seven years, it has, and much them fall under the category of what role the government should play in making sure the system’s rigged in favor of the wealthiest and biggest corporations not.

And an honest disagreement, it is. And, choice to make, the American people have.

The lifeblood of our economy, I believe a thriving private sector is. Outdated regulations that need to be changed, I think there are, red tape that needs to be cut, there is.

You go there. Yes.

See, hmm?

But of record corporate profits after years, get more opportunity or bigger paychecks just by letting big banks or big oil or hedge funds make their own rules at everybody else’s expense working families will not.

Going to feel more secure middle-class families are not because we allowed attacks on collective bargaining to go unanswered. Cause the financial crisis food stamp recipients did not; recklessness on Wall Street did.

The principal reason wages have not gone up immigrants are not. Made in the boardrooms that all too often put quarterly earnings over long-term returns, those decisions are. The average family watching tonight that avoids paying taxes through offshore accounts it is sure not.

The point is, I believe, this new economy that in, of a voice workers and start-ups and small businesses need more, not less. Work for them, the rules should. And…

… I am alone in this not. This year, to lift up the many businesses who’ve figured out that doing right by their workers or their customers or their communities ends up being good for their shareholders I plan … Herh herh herh. Herh herh herh. Herh herh herh.

… And I spread those best practices across America want to. Part of a brighter future that is. In fact, also our most creative, it turns out many of our best corporate citizens are.

And to answer, this brings me to the second big question we as a country have: How we reignite that spirit of innovation to meet our biggest challenges, hmm?

Sixty years ago, when the Russians beat us into space, we did deny Sputnik was up there not.

Argue about the science we did not, or our research and development budget shrink. We built a space program almost overnight, and twelve years later, walking on the moon, we were.

Now, in our DNA, that spirit of discovery is. Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver, America is. Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson and Sally Ride, America is. Every immigrant and entrepreneur from Boston to Austin to Silicon Valley racing to shape a better future, America is.

Who we are, that is, and over the past seven years, nurtured that spirit, we have. Protected an open internet, we have, and to get more students and low-income Americans online taken bold new steps.

Launched next-generation manufacturing hubs and online tools that give an entrepreneur everything he or she needs to start a business in a single day, we have. But do so much more, we can.

You know, last year, Vice President Biden said that, with new moon-shot, cure cancer, America can. Last month, had in over a decade, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the national institutes of health the strongest resources that they have.

Well, so — so tonight, announcing a new national effort to get it done, I am. And gone to the mat for all of us on so many issues over the past 40 years, because he is, putting joe in charge of mission control I am.

For the loved ones, all lost, have we, for still save, the families that we can, make America the country that cures cancer once and for all let us. What you think, hmm? Make it happen, let us.

And critical, medical research is. Of commitment we need the same level when it comes to developing clean energy sources.

Look, if to dispute the science around climate change anybody still wants, have at it. Pretty lonely will you be because you will be debating our military, of America’s business leaders most, of the American people the majority, almost the entire scientific community, and 200 nations around the world who agree, a problem and intend to solve it, is it.

But even if — even if the planet was at stake not, the warmest year on record until 2015 turned out even hotter — why would we want to pass up the chance for American businesses to produce and sell the energy of the future even if 2014 was not, hmm?

Listen, seven years ago, our history we made the single biggest investment in clean energy in. The results, here are. To Texas in fields from Iowa, now cheaper than dirtier, wind power is, conventional power. To New York on rooftops from Arizona, saving Americans tens of millions of dollars a year on their energy bills and employs more Americans than coal — in jobs that pay better than average, solar is.

Taking steps to give homeowners the freedom to generate and store their own energy — something we are, by the way, teamed up to support, that environmentalists and Tea Partiers have. And meanwhile, cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly 60 percent and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on earth we have.

Gas under $2 a gallon ain’t bad either.

Got to accelerate the transition away from old, now we have, dirtier energy sources. Rather than subsidize the past, invest in the future, we should, especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels. Them no favor, we do when we do not show them where the trends are going. and why I am going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet, that is. And that way, to work building a 21st century transportation system we put money back into those communities and put tens of thousands of Americans.

Now, none of this is happen overnight going to, and yes, there are plenty of entrenched interests who protect the status quo want to. But the jobs, create, will we, save we the money will, preserve we the planet will, the kind of future our kids and our grandkids deserve that is. And within our grasp, it is.

Now, linked to the rest of the world, climate change is just one of many issues where our security is, and problem, that is why the third big question that we have to answer together is how to keep America safe and strong without either isolating ourselves or trying to nation-build everywhere there is.

Political hot air, I told you earlier all the talk of America’s economic decline is. Well, so you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker is all the rhetoric. Me tell you something let. The most powerful nation on earth, the United States of America is, period. Period.

Even close it is not. Even close it is not. Even close it is not. Our military than the next eight nations combined we spend more on.

The finest fighting force in the history of the world, our troops are.

Our allies no nation attacks us directly or because they know that is the path to ruin. Higher than, surveys show our standing around the world is when I was elected to this office, and to every important international issue when it comes, people of the world look not to Beijing or Moscow to lead. Us, they call us.

So useful to level set here, I think it is, because not, when we do, we make not good decisions. Now, as with an intelligence briefing someone who begins every day, dangerous time, I know this is. But that is primarily not because of some looming superpower out there, and certainly not, is it because of diminished American strength.

In today’s world, threatened less by evil empires and more by failing states, are we. Play out for a generation, the middle east is going through a transformation that will, rooted in conflicts that date back millennia. Economic headwinds are blowing in from a Chinese economy, in significant transition, that is. As their economy severely contracts even, pouring resources into prop up Ukraine and Syria, Russia is, their orbit client states that they saw slipping away from. And now struggling to keep pace with this new reality, the international system we built after world war ii is.

Up to us to help, it is, of America the United States, to help remake that system. And that well, to do, it means that, got to set priorities, have we. Protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks, priority number one is.

To our people both Al Qaida and now ISIL pose a direct threat, because in today’s world, of terrorists who place no value on human life even a handful, their own including, much damage, can do. To poison the minds of individuals inside our country they use the internet; our allies their actions undermine and destabilize. To take them out, we have.

But as we focus on destroying ISIL, World War III just play into their hands, over-the-top claims that this is. Of fighters on the back of pickup trucks masses, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages, to civilians they pose an enormous danger, to be stopped, they have, but they threaten not our national existence. The story ISIL wants to tell that is; the kind of propaganda they use to recruit, that is.

We need not to build them up to show that we are serious, and to push away vital allies in this fight by echoing the lie that ISIL is somehow representative of one of the world’s largest religions we sure need not.

To call them what they are we just need: To be rooted out, killers and fanatics who have, hunted down, and destroyed.

And exactly what we are doing, that is. For more than a year, led a coalition of more than 60 countries to cut off ISIL’s financing, America has, their plots disrupt, of terrorist fighters stop the flow, and their vicious ideology stamp out. With nearly 10,000 air strikes, taking out their leadership, are we, their oil, their training camps, their vicious ideology.

With nearly 10,000 air strikes, taking out their leadership we are, their oil, their training camps, their weapons. Training, we are training, steadily reclaiming territory in Iraq and Syria, arming and supporting forces who are.

If serious about winning this war and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, this Congress is, of military force against ISIL authorize the use. Take a vote.

Take a vote. But know that, the American people should, with or without Congressional action, learn the same lessons as terrorists before them, ISIL will. If done, you doubt America’s commitment — or mine — to see that justice is, just ask Osama Bin Laden.

Of Al Qaida in Yemen ask — ask the leader, taken out last year, who was, or of the benghazi attacks the perpetrator, who sits in a prison cell. When after Americans, you come, we go after you. And take time it may, but long memories, we have, and no limits, our reach has.

To be focused on the threat from ISIL and Al Qaida, our foreign policy has, but stop there it cannot. For even without ISIL, even without Al Qaida, continue for decades in many parts of the world — in the Middle East, instability will, of Pakistan in Afghanistan and parts, of Central America and Africa and Asia in parts.

For new terrorist networks some of these places may become safe havens. Just fall victim to ethnic conflict or famine, others will, of refugees feeding the next wave.

Look to us to help solve these problems, the world will, and to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet-bomb civilians our answer needs. As a TV sound bite that may work, but it pass not muster on the world stage.

We also, try to take over and rebuild every country that falls into crisis, cannot …

… Even if, done with the best of intentions, is it. Leadership that is not; recipe for quagmire, that is, weaken us, spilling American blood and treasure that ultimately will. The lesson of Vietnam, is it. The lesson of Iraq, is it, and learned it by now, should we have.

Fortunately, smarter approach there is, of our national power a patient and disciplined strategy that uses every element. Always act, it says America will, alone if necessary, to protect our people and our allies, but of global concern on issues, mobilize the world to work with us, we will, and their own weight make sure other countries pull.

Our approach to conflicts like Syria, that is, where, partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace, are we.

Why we built a global coalition, that is, with sanctions and principled diplomacy, to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. And as we speak, rolled back its nuclear program, Iran has, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and avoided another war, the world has.

How — that is how we stopped the spread of Ebola in West Africa that is.

Our military, our doctors, heroic, our development workers — they were. To join in behind us and stamp out that epidemic they set up the platform that then allowed other countries. Saved, hundreds of thousands — maybe a couple million lives were. How we forged a trans pacific partnership to open markets, that is, and protect workers and the environment, and advance American leadership in Asia. It cuts 18,000 taxes on products made in America which will then support more good jobs here in America. with TPP, China sets the rules in that region not, we do. We show our strength in this new century want to, hmm? This agreement approve, to enforce it give us the tools. The right thing to do, it is.

Me give you another example let.

To promote democracy 50 years of isolating Cuba had failed, it set us back in Latin America. Why we restored diplomatic relations, that is, to travel and commerce opened the door, to improve the lives of the cuban people positioned ourselves.

So, if you consolidate our leadership and credibility in the hemisphere want to, over, recognize that the cold war is. Lift the embargo.

Choice between ignoring the rest of the world the point is American leadership in the 21st century is not, except when we kill terrorists; or unraveling, occupying and rebuilding whatever society is. Of military power leadership means a wise application, and right, rallying the world behind causes that are. As part of our national security it means seeing our foreign assistance, not something separate, not charity. When to the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change we lead nearly 200 nations, yes, that helps vulnerable countries, but our kids it also protects. When we help Ukraine defend its democracy, or Colombia resolve a decades-long war, that strengthens the international order we depend on. When for the sick we help african countries feed their people and care…

The right thing to do, it is, and our shores it prevents the next pandemic from reaching. Now right now, on track to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS, we are, within our grasp, that is, and the chance to accomplish the same thing with malaria, we have, pushing this Congress to fund this year will something I be. American strength, that is. American leadership, that is. And of leadership depends on the power of our example that kind. Why I will keep working to shut down the prison at Guantanamo, that is. Expensive, it is expensive, unnecessary, it is unnecessary, and for our enemies it only serves as a recruitment brochure. Better way, there is.

And why we need to reject any politics — any politics that targets people, that is because of race or religion.

Me just say this let. This is a matter of political correctness not. This is a matter of understanding just what, that makes us strong, is it. Just for our arsenal the world respects us not, for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith it respects us. His Holiness, Pope Francis, told this body from the very spot, standing on tonight that “to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place, am I.” when politicians insult Muslims, whether abroad, or fellow citizens, when vandalized, a mosque is, or called names, a kid is, that makes us safer not. That is telling it what — telling it like it is not, just wrong, is it. Of the world it diminishes us in the eyes.

To achieve our goals it makes it harder. It betrays who, as a country, are we.

“We the People.” With those three simple words our Constitution begins, words, come to recognize mean all the people, have we, not just some. Words that insist we rise and fall together, how we might perfect our union, that that is.

And to the fourth that brings me, and maybe most important thing that I say tonight want to. The future we want, for our families all of us want — opportunity and security, of living a rising standard, sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids — all, within our reach, that is. But only happen if we work together, it will. Only happen if we can have rational, will it, constructive debates. Only happen if we fix our politics, it will.

Better politics means we have to agree on everything not. Big country, this is, different regions, different attitudes, different interests. One of our strengths, that is, too. Of government our founders distributed power between states and branches, and to argue expected us, as they did just, fiercely, of government over the size and shape, over commerce and foreign relations, of liberty and the imperatives of security over the meaning.

But require basic bonds of trust between its citizens, democracy does. It —s it does not work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice not, it works not if we think that our political opponents are unpatriotic or trying to weaken America.

To a halt without a willingness to compromise or democracy grinds when even basic facts are contested or when we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention. and of all most, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice does not matter; rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some special interest, that the system is.

Too many Americans feel that way right now. One of the few regrets of my presidency — that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better, it is. No doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, I have, and keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office I I guarantee will.

But my fellow Americans, this my task — or any president’s — alone cannot be. Whole lot of folks in this chamber — good people — who would like to see more cooperation, there are, to see a more elevated debate in Washington but feel trapped by the imperatives of getting elected would like, of your base by the noise coming out. I know; told me, you have. The worst-kept secret in Washington, it is. And enjoying being trapped in that kind of rancor much you are not. Herh herh herh.

But addressing the American people now — if we want a better politics, that means if we want a better politics — and I am, enough just to change a congressman or change a senator or even change a president it is not. To change the system to reflect our better selves, have we.

The other way around I think we have got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not.

It, let a bipartisan group do.

I believe, got to reduce the influence of money in our politics, have we, so bankroll our elections, that a handful of families or hidden interests cannot.

And pass muster in the courts if our existing approach to campaign finance reform cannot, to work together to find a real solution we need, because problem, it is. And raising money most of you like not. I know. Done it, I have.

Got to make it easier to vote, we have, not harder. To modernize it for the way we live now we need.

America, this is. We make it easier for people to participate want to. And of this year over the course, just that, I intend to travel the country to push for reforms that do.

But do these things on my own I cannot. Just who gets elected changes in our political process — in not, but elected — that will only happen, how they get when the American people demand it. It depends on you. What’s meant by a government of, that is, by, and for the people.

What, suggesting is hard, am I. Lot easier to be cynical, it is, possible to accept that change is not, and hopeless, politics is, and the problem is, all the folks who are elected not care, and matter to believe that our voices and our actions not.

But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, those with money and power will, or allow another economic disaster, or fought, roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have, even died, to secure. And then, as frustration grows, there, voices urging us to fall back into our respective tribes, will be, like us to scapegoat fellow citizens who look not, or like us pray, or like we do vote, or share the same background.

Afford to go down that path, we cannot. It will deliver the economy we want not. It will produce the security we want not. But of all most, of the world it contradicts everything that makes us the envy.

So, my fellow Americans, you may believe whatever, you prefer one party or no party whether, against it, whether you supported my agenda or fought as hard as you could, to uphold your duties as a citizen our collective futures depends on your willingness, to vote, to speak out, to stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, only here, knowing that each of us is because somebody somewhere stood up for us.

Just during election time so that our public life reflects the goodness and the decency that I see in the American people every single day we need every American to stay active in our public life and not. It is easy not. Hard, our brand of democracy is. But promise that, I can, over a year from now a little, when this office I no longer hold, right there with you as a citizen, will I be, of fairness and vision inspired by those voices, of grit and good humor and kindness, helped America travel so far, that have.

First and foremost as black or white or Asian or Latino voices that help us see ourselves not; as gay or straight not, immigrant or native born; not Democrat or Republican; but as Americans first, bound by a common creed.

Voices Dr. King believed, the final word — voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love, would have. And out there, they are, those voices. They get not much attention. Much fanfare they seek not, but busy doing the work this country needs doing, are they.

Of ours I see them everywhere I travel in this incredible country. You, I see you, the American people. And of citizenship in your daily acts, our future unfolding I see.

To keep his company open I see it in the worker on the assembly line who clocked extra shifts, and of laying him off the boss who pays him higher wages instead.

To finish her science project I see it in the dreamer who stays up late at night, and the teacher who comes in early, with some extra supplies that she bought maybe, because she knows that that young girl might someday cure a disease.

His time I see it in the American who’s served, as a child made bad mistakes, but dreaming of starting over, now is, and it in the business owner who gives him that second chance I see; to prove that justice matters the protester determined; and the young cop walking the beat, with respect treating everybody, doing the brave, of keeping us safe quiet work.

To save his brothers I see it in the soldier who gives almost everything, the nurse who tends to him until, run a marathon, can he, to cheer him on the community that lines up. The son who finds the courage to come out as who he is, it is, and the father whose love for that son overrides everything, been taught, is he.

Wait in line to cast her vote as long as she has to, I see it in the elderly woman who will; for the first time the new citizen who casts his vote; count, the volunteers at the polls who believe every vote should, because of them each, in different ways, worth, know how much that precious right is.

The America I know, that is. The country we love, that is. Clear-eyed, big-hearted, undaunted by challenge, have the final word, optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will. What makes me so hopeful about our future, that is.

I believe in change because I believe in you, the American people. And why I stand here, that is, as ever been I confident as have, strong, that the state of our union is.

Thank you, God bless you, and of America God bless the United States.