Our View: Another good speech, but a so-so year

President Barack Obama is an eloquent speaker; he demonstrated that again Tuesday night in his State of the Union address.

There are any number of ways to judge his speech, and most depend on the color of your accessories – red necktie generally means you hated it, blue scarf means your hands are sore from clapping. We tried to judge it based on criteria most Americans – not those who live in Washington, D.C. – can relate to. We wanted to know if (or how) he addressed five questions we hear our neighbors asking most often.

▪ Does anyone care about my future? The president was emphatic about his plans to help middle-class Americans reap some of the rewards that have been going only to bankers and Wall Streeters so far in this recovery. He applauded news that wages are “finally” starting to rise and talked about raising taxes on the rich to help the middle class. It’s important when most folks are driving 5-year-old cars and have less than $4,000 in the bank. None of it will pass, but we’ll give him an A.

▪ Where are the jobs (the good jobs) you promised? The president seems to believe good times are here again, that we have “risen from recession,” that we have weathered the storm. He should check out our corner of the Central Valley. Yes, unemployment is down, but it is still just barely under double digits. We still need help. He gets a D.

▪ Can you help my kids get an education or pay off student loans? His much-anticipated “free community college” plan might resonate more in other states. In California we’ve already got an excellent system that is a bargain. But making higher education truly affordable paid off generations ago and is worth trying again. Give him a B.

▪ Is there anything you guys agree on? The president ranged from feisty in promising vetoes to beseeching Republicans to work with him. He often seemed sincere (especially in his unscripted zinger late in his speech), but after the success of his executive orders, he’s more likely to remain confrontational. We agreed when he said: “Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work as long as politics don’t get in the way.” But politics always gets in the way. He gets a C.

▪ Can you keep us safe on our own streets and in the world? Yes. By asking for approval to use force against murderous Islamic State fighters in Syria, he went beyond our expectations. And then he went one better, emphasizing the need to help keep us safe against cybercrime. His request to normalize relations with Cuba could make us safer, too. Full credit: A.

▪ Bonus question: Are we better off now than we were six years ago? We believe President Obama laid out a convincing case that we are – it just doesn’t always feel like it. We might have to claw our way to a better future, but we feel there is one out there. He’s right about this point: “This country works best when everyone gets a fair shot.” Another B.

The president did not address all our concerns, but he did provide a blueprint for a path forward. Unfortunately, the GOP was criticizing the speech before they even heard it. But refusing to consider any of his programs will reflect badly on those who would rather posture for the cameras than get things done for the American people. We hope both Obama and Republicans listen to their better angels.

We’ll give President Obama a B. Not for the speech, he’s a fine speaker. The B reflects the year we’ve had. Some good, some bad, but overall we’re moving in the right direction. Finally.

This story was originally published January 20, 2015 at 8:39 PM with the headline "Our View: Another good speech, but a so-so year."