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Gore Vidal Delivers State of the Union: "Let the Powers
That Be Know There is Something Called We the People of the
U.S. and all Sovereignty Rests in Us."
Critics Warn Bush's Upcoming Policies Will Worsen Health
Care Crisis, Hit Most Vulnerable Hardest
With Exxon Making a Record $5 Million Per Hour, a Look at
Bush's Energy Policies Ahead of His State of the Union
Civil Rights Icon Coretta Scott King, 1927-2006
Gore Vidal Delivers State of the Union: "Let
the Powers That Be Know There is Something Called We the People
of the U.S. and all Sovereignty Rests in Us."
In advance of President Bush’s state of the union
address later tonight, author Gore Vidal delivers his own
traditional state of the union address. We hear Vidal speak
about patriotism, the NSA domestic surveillance programs,
corporate America, Presidential powers and more. [includes
rush
transcript]
In Washington, President Bush will deliver the State of the
Union address tonight. In advance of tonight we’d like
to bring you a different take on the annual presidential speech.
Since the early 1970s, author and playwright Gore Vidal has
been delivering his own State of the Union address. The tradition
began on the David Susskind Show. We’re going to continue
that tradition by hearing from Gore Vidal today.
- Gore Vidal, one of America’s most respected writers
and thinkers. He’s authored more than twenty novels
and five plays. His recent national bestsellers are "Dreaming
War" and "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace."
His latest book is called "Imperial America: Reflections
on the United States of Amnesia."
Critics Warn Bush's Upcoming Policies Will Worsen
Health Care Crisis, Hit Most Vulnerable Hardest
In the State of the Union address tonight, Bush is expected
to put forth a series of proposals aimed at addressing the
nation’s ailing health care system. Critics contend
that Bush’s proposals will ultimately discourage people
from seeking the care they need. We hear from a Medicare recipient
who testified at the recent Congressional briefing about difficulties
she endured under the new drug prescription benefit program
and speak with Families USA about Bush’s health insurance
plan. [includes rush
transcript]
In Bush’s first term, the number of people without
health insurance increased by more than 1 million, bringing
the total number of uninsured to more than 45 million in 2004.
And according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the cost of
a health-insurance plan for a family of four hit over $10,800
last year. This was 70% more than in 2000.
In tonight’s address, Bush is expected to put forth
a series of proposals that include tax deductions for out-of-pocket
medical expenses, expansion of health savings accounts and
tax breaks for small businesses and individuals who buy their
own health insurance. But critics contend these proposals
do little to expand health coverage, and in fact transfer
much of the health care costs to the individual. They argue
that ultimately this discourages people from seeking the care
they need.
Another issue the President is expected to address tonight
is Medicare. At the start of the year, the new Medicare prescription
drug benefit went into effect. It has already been plagued
by a host of glitches angering both seniors and pharmacists.
Under the new program, millions of senior citizens and disabled
people are eligible to enroll in private plans run by insurers
and pharmaceutical benefit companies. Bush pushed through
the plan in 2003 and touted the program as benefiting low-income
seniors. However, the Social Security Administration recently
found that the plan is leaving at least 4.7 million low-income
seniors without the benefits they are entitled to.
- Ruth Grunberg, Medicare recipient who testified at the
recent Congressional briefing to examine how the new Medicare
drug benefit is working.
With Exxon Making a Record $5 Million Per Hour, a
Look at Bush's Energy Policies Ahead of His State of the Union
In tonight’s State of the Union address, President
Bush is expected to outline a set of energy proposals that
administration officials say will address growing public anxiety
over high energy costs. This will follow Exxon Mobil’s
recent announcement of making the biggest annual profit ever
earned by a U.S. corporation, drawing the criticism of consumer
groups. We speak with Steve Kretzmann of Oil Change International
about their report titled, "Crude Designs: The Rip-Off
of Iraq's Oil Wealth" and Bush's upcoming address. [includes
rush
transcript]
Last year Americans were hit with the biggest jump in energy
prices in 15 years. A survey this month by the Pew Research
Center found eight in ten Americans see high gasoline prices
as one of the leading economic problems in the country.
Yesterday oil giant Exxon Mobil reported the biggest annual
profit ever earned by a U.S. corporation -- $36 billion dollars.
The record profits drew renewed accusations of price gouging
from consumer groups which company spokespeople quickly denied.
In tonight’s speech, the President is expected to address
the U.S.’ growing dependence on foreign oil by promoting
a greater reliance on nuclear energy. The White House is set
to launch a $250 million dollar initiative to reprocess nuclear
fuel. Supporters say the move could relieve a dangerous build-up
of nuclear waste that could serve as a target for a terrorist
attack
Civil Rights Icon Coretta Scott King, 1927-2006
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Joseph Lowery and Herb Boyd
reflect on the legacy of freedom fighter Coretta Scott King,
the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin
Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 79 in Georgia. She
had spent her life fighting for civil rights and preserving
her late husband’s legacy.
In April of 1968 Coretta Scott King led a march through Memphis
just days after Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated.
Later that year she led the Poor People’s March in Washington,
D.C. She continued working for equality, peace and economic
justice for the remainder of her life, both in the United
States and abroad.
- Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian
Leadership Conference and a close friend of the King family.
- Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader. He is the founder
of the Rainbow/PUSH coalition, a progressive organization
fighting for social change.
- Herb Boyd, activist and author, writer for the Amsterdam
News and author of many books including “We Shall
Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement As It
Happened”.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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