State of the union in uncertain times

Editorial

Most Americans agree with President Obama that a fairer, more productive nation is something we should strive for.

Yet in these times of high unemployment, lingering housing trouble and intense global competition, he seems to have just discovered a new laundry list of potential government solutions.

The union's economic health is improving. Growth is returning, and the best of the federal stimulus investments, such as the connection of the Port of Tampa to I-4, will pay off in a number of ways.

But the many things the president is not talking about overshadow the main theme of his populist-themed State of the Union address Tuesday night: to "restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."

Obama took a strong, hard line against Iran's nuclear ambition. He is right to encourage more use of natural gas, strengthen rules that protect the integrity of the free market and emphasize useful education and opportunity.

But Obama's new emphasis on unfairness is a rhetorical fog. By saying he wants to reward responsibility, he implies that responsible people are not being rewarded now. How so?

Another foggy example is the tax rate. A guest at the speech was Warren Buffett's secretary, who pays a higher tax rate than the billionaire. An argument can be made for a surtax on the super-rich, and it will play well on the campaign trail, but it won't close the budget deficit or much help the working class.

If the president wants to eliminate, for example, the tax-free status of certain bonds, then the cost of borrowing for a variety of municipal and county projects is going to cost local taxpayers more.

What was most troubling about Obama's speech, which was well-delivered but predictably short on details, was what he danced around.

The national debt is up 43 percent since he took office. Excessive government borrowing in Europe is causing an economic crisis there.

Instead of taking steps to put U.S. finances on a more sustainable course, Obama has ignored recommendations of his own debt panel.

Congress has not been able to agree on a budget since 2009. Taxpayers are worried about gridlock allowing lower tax rates to expire.

The cost of health insurance continues to increase faster than inflation. Obama strongly pushed the continuation of a payroll tax cut, now in its second year, but he avoided saying how the revenue shortage has affected the health of Social Security.

One of his biggest cheers came after he said that government should do only what people can't do for themselves.

Unfortunately, it was more of an aside than a consistent theme.