In the state of union address, Obama talked about investment, intellectual property and the protection of the environment. On investments, President Obama indicated that new trade business partnerships with Europe and Asia-Pacific would help the small businesses in creating more jobs.
On intellectual property, Obama acknowledged the fact that China and Europe have taken massive steps in global innovation relating to intellectual property (The White House). With the use of federal funded research, there have been increases in ideas and inventions in Smartphone. Obama also noted that there is need for Congress to increase budgets for research to advance innovation and pass a reform bill on patents, which will allow and foster innovations in businesses.
Obama talked about issues of the environment. He emphasized on the need to address climate change. He noted that there had been a significant reduction in total carbon pollution in the United States over the past several years, which could also be linked to the implementation of the country’s energy policy (The White House). He acknowledged that the change in climate was affecting communities experiencing drought and the coastal cities with floods. He indicated that his government would work with states to ensure that new standards are set to ensure power plants reduce the levels of carbon pollution released into the air. Additionally, the president indicated that the trade agreements would help to protect the environment.
Obama promised in his speech to increase the minimum wage. This will certainly be a welcome to the Hispanic communities. The exploitation of natural gas (safe extraction), may be significant in reducing the levels of carbon pollution (The White House). Helping the small business owners will aid in creating more employment opportunities. Further, the president is seeking to increase the number of small business exporters. Moreover, this may contribute in opening new markets with goods branded “Made in the USA”. Addressing the climate change problem is significant to protect the environment. The use of renewable energy can play a significant role in reducing carbon pollution.
Negative
Most of the Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic partnerships Free Trade agreements are oriented to enhance big business as opposed to the small business. Therefore, most of these new trade partnerships may end up only helping the big businesses. Increasing the minimum wage is likely to cause a reduction in employment. Further, the current Investment Chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnerships enables transnational companies to challenges a majority of public regulations, which seems to affect foreign investments.
The president failed to address issues of cost that may result from the domestic intellectual property agenda, which is not in agreement with the Intellectual property chapter proposed by the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Cost will mostly be associated with litigation. The Trans-Pacific Partnership fails to address copyright censors, patent trolls and trademark bullies.
Most people see that the trade agreements relating to the environmental chapter are a public relations exercise. Further, the implementation of the investment chapter poses a significant threat to the protection of the environment. Gas companies are using investor-state dispute mechanisms to challenge the fracking ban in areas such as Quebec, which is under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The president seems to promote exploitation of natural gas, a fossil fuel. Fossil fuel exploitation is a significant contributor to the production and release of carbon pollution in the atmosphere. This seems to be in contrary in protecting the environment. The president seems to promote fracking of oil and gas and at the same time is promoting renewable energy (McCarthy). This seems to be contradictory.
Works Cited
McCarthy, Tom. "State of the Union 2014: Obama calls for 'year of action'." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/28/obama-state-of-the-union-address-live>.
"President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/28/president-barack-obamas-state-union-address>.
