[AliVeritas]

Every single person I have talked to loves the new plan. I have talked to pharmacists, social security and those I go to get meds for (the elderly). These people signed up early though, there may be problems for those who waited too long to sign up. The savings are great for them. It enables the elderly to move up from eating things you wouldn't imagine.

[Bahbah]

The problem I see, Ali, is that it is going to break the bank. We keep adding and adding and adding to entitlements and then we say, well, this entitlement is good because it helps people I want to help. Pretty soon half of the budget is entitlements and we are done for.

[Liberty Valance]

SOTU background...

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With the advent of radio and television, the President's annual message has become not only a conversation between the President and Congress but also an opportunity for the President to communicate with the American people at the same time. Calvin Coolidge's 1923 speech was the first annual message broadcast on radio. Franklin Roosevelt began using the phrase "State of the Union" in 1935, which became the common name of the President's annual message. Roosevelt's successor, Harry Truman, also set a precedent in 1947 when his State of the Union speech became the first to be broadcast on television.

Most annual messages outline the President's legislative agenda and national priorities in general or specific terms. James Monroe in 1823 discussed the centerpiece of his foreign policy, now-known as the Monroe Doctrine, which called on European countries to end western colonization. Lincoln famously expressed his desire for slave emancipation in 1862, and Franklin Roosevelt spoke about the now-famous four freedoms during his State of the Union message in 1941.

Whatever the form, content, delivery method or broadcast medium, the President's annual address is a backdrop for national unity. The State of the Union gives the President an opportunity to reflect on the past while presenting his hopes for the future to Congress, the American people and the world.

[Annie5622]

It helps until they reach the 'donut hole', as they put it. Then nothing - and they can't use their old plan and still have to continue to pay for their new plan until after they meet the 'donut hole' requirements. I don't see that as a good thing!