# 2013 State of The Union - Let's Go **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142 "2013-02-13T02:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/141 "2013-02-14T04:49:55Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > My least favorite part of the SOTU was watching Boehner blow his nose and inspect his handkerchief briefly before folding it and putting it away. Ick. You’d rather he not inspect his hanky and leave a stray booger nugget on his chin? Double Ick. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/142 "2013-02-14T04:51:58Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I mean why don’t you just go ahead and accuse everyone who’s ever been to the hunting camp of littering and regicide. 'Cos we’re all commies, of course! We consider littering and regicide to be GOOD things! Sheesh, try to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/143 "2013-02-14T04:54:20Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I admit registration is possible without resulting in confiscation, but to quote Remo, the Chicago Mob boss in the movie Casino: “Why take a chance?” Great! Let’s base ALL our policy decisions on the example set by Mob bosses! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/144 "2013-02-14T06:49:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Great! Let’s base ALL our policy decisions on the example set by Mob bosses! _Movie_ Mob bosses, no less! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/145 "2013-02-14T07:06:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > BTW, why does this thread belong in the Elections forum? Because for some bizarre reason TPTB refuse to rename the forum “Politics”. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/146 "2013-02-14T13:55:59Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > TWEEEET! > > We already have a (large) number of gun control threads. Let’s keep that topic in those threads and leave this one open for the other points of discussion regarding the State of the Union. > > [/Moderating] Really? The capstone moment of Obama’s speech was gun control. It was by far the most important thing he spoke of evidenced by the fact that he saved it until last, it got them most applause from the Democrats, and he was more passionate about it than anything else he spoke about by far. To ban it from a conversation about the speech leaves there nothing to talk about. You might as well close the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/147 "2013-02-14T13:58:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Great! Let’s base ALL our policy decisions on the example set by Mob bosses! > [@Shayna](#): > > _Movie_ Mob bosses, no less! To you both, and others who continue to pile on me about gun control. I am forbidden from responding, and if I do I’m sure I will be warned. But you can probably feel free to continue to get your shots in at me. I doubt anything will happen to you. Your bravery in continuing to hammer away at me is very admirable, given how my hands and feet are tied. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/148 "2013-02-14T14:43:31Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Really? The capstone moment of Obama’s speech was gun control. It was by far the most important thing he spoke of evidenced by the fact that he saved it until last, it got them most applause from the Democrats, and he was more passionate about it than anything else he spoke about by far. Seemed to me the most passion was for voter-access and that 102-year-old voter. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/149 "2013-02-14T14:53:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Seemed to me the most passion was for voter-access and that 102-year-old voter. He devoted 158 words to voter access. He devoted 380 words to gun control. Obama stopped three times during voter access for applause. He stopped ten times during gun control for applause. He mentioned voter access first, but gun control was the last item in the speech. For voter access he said he was forming a committee. For gun control he demanded a vote. Eight times. There’s no contest. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/150 "2013-02-14T15:37:09Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > For voter access he said he was forming a committee. For gun control he demanded a vote. Eight times. > > There’s no contest. Did you happen to notice that the standing ovation he received while demanding a vote was very bi-partisan and included Speaker Boehner standing and clapping behind him? You seem to be outside your own party on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/151 "2013-02-14T15:47:44Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Did you happen to notice that the standing ovation he received while demanding a vote was very bi-partisan and included Speaker Boehner standing and clapping behind him? You seem to be outside your own party on this one. They might indeed want a vote. Do you think that their vote will be “yes”? You want to put money on it? ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/152 "2013-02-14T15:54:06Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > They might indeed want a vote. Do you think that their vote will be “yes”? > > You want to put money on it? I’ll put money on the electorate, and the GOP won’t want to be on the opposite side of that. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/153 "2013-02-14T16:11:45Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > They might indeed want a vote. Do you think that their vote will be “yes”? > > You want to put money on it? Maybe once we actually have a vote scheduled. > [@Andiethewestie](#): > > I’ll put money on the electorate, and the GOP won’t want to be on the opposite side of that. Exactly. The GOP is on the wrong side of the public on this one and they know it. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/154 "2013-02-14T17:40:41Z")
"…history says that raising the minimum wage has little if any impact on job creation. A study published in November 2010 in the Review of Economics and Statistics, for instance, found “no detectable employment losses from the kind of minimum wage increases we have seen in the United States.” Another published in 2011 “found no impact on hours worked or employment levels.” The seminal study of the minimum wage, done by economists David Card and Alan Krueger, found that job creation was actually strengthened by an increase in the minimum wage. This result has been found time and time again. So Rubio and Ryan have the history exactly backwards: raising the minimum wage results in higher wages and more purchasing power for workers, not job losses." [http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/) Links to the studies listed in the story: [http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf](http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf) (pdf warning) [An Increased Minimum Wage Is Good Policy Even During Hard Times - Center for American Progress Action](http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/labor/news/2011/06/07/9747/an-increased-minimum-wage-is-good-policy-even-during-hard-times/) [http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf](http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf) It seems to me that raising the minimum wage would be stimulative. Given the known wage stagnation, I’d support that. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/155 "2013-02-14T19:09:35Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Confiscation can’t be done without registration. That’s why, every so often when they remodel an old government office, they stumble across a pile of century-old alcohol registraton forms. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/156 "2013-02-14T21:34:16Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > "…history says that raising the minimum wage has little if any impact on job creation. A study published in November 2010 in the Review of Economics and Statistics, for instance, found “no detectable employment losses from the kind of minimum wage increases we have seen in the United States.” Another published in 2011 “found no impact on hours worked or employment levels.” > > The seminal study of the minimum wage, done by economists David Card and Alan Krueger, found that job creation was actually strengthened by an increase in the minimum wage. This result has been found time and time again. So Rubio and Ryan have the history exactly backwards: raising the minimum wage results in higher wages and more purchasing power for workers, not job losses." [http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/) > > Links to the studies listed in the story: > [http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf](http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf) (pdf warning) > [An Increased Minimum Wage Is Good Policy Even During Hard Times - Center for American Progress Action](http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/labor/news/2011/06/07/9747/an-increased-minimum-wage-is-good-policy-even-during-hard-times/) > [http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf](http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf) > > It seems to me that raising the minimum wage would be stimulative. Given the known wage stagnation, I’d support that. :dubious: You’re not thinking supply-side! ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/157 "2013-02-14T21:39:36Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > That’s why, every so often when they remodel an old government office, they stumble across a pile of century-old alcohol registraton forms. See post #147 for my response to this. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/158 "2013-02-15T00:40:37Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > "…history says that raising the minimum wage has little if any impact on job creation. A study published in November 2010 in the Review of Economics and Statistics, for instance, found “no detectable employment losses from the kind of minimum wage increases we have seen in the United States.” Another published in 2011 “found no impact on hours worked or employment levels.” > > The seminal study of the minimum wage, done by economists David Card and Alan Krueger, found that job creation was actually strengthened by an increase in the minimum wage. This result has been found time and time again. So Rubio and Ryan have the history exactly backwards: raising the minimum wage results in higher wages and more purchasing power for workers, not job losses." [http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/13/1587381/top-republicans-oppose-minimum-wage/) > > Links to the studies listed in the story: > [http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf](http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf) (pdf warning) > [An Increased Minimum Wage Is Good Policy Even During Hard Times - Center for American Progress Action](http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/labor/news/2011/06/07/9747/an-increased-minimum-wage-is-good-policy-even-during-hard-times/) > [http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf](http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/njmin-aer.pdf) > > It seems to me that raising the minimum wage would be stimulative. Given the known wage stagnation, I’d support that. Yeah, you are correct. But getting this point through can be quite difficult. I wonder what the reaction will be in the political climate we have today. They don’t think rationally or take science into account. I mean just look at how many major corporations threatened to cut jobs, or hours in response to the ACA or just the re-election of Obama. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/159 "2013-02-15T00:43:25Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > See post #147 for my response to this. Debaser, there are 300+ million guns in this country. Opposition to gun control is irrationally fierce. To think that gun registration will result in confiscation, at any point in your lifetime, is not only incredibly naive, but also irresponsible. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142/160 "2013-02-15T03:48:53Z")
**REGARDING GUN CONTROL:** > [@Shayna](#): > > This. Registration is completely unnecessary to confiscation … _if_ confiscation were the goal (which it’s not). > > Also, we have millions of registered cars but the big, bad ol’ gubmint isn’t running around confiscating cars. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 'Cos we’re all commies, of course! We consider littering and regicide to be GOOD things! > > Sheesh, try to keep up. > [@Debaser](#): > > Really? The capstone moment of Obama’s speech was gun control. It was by far the most important thing he spoke of evidenced by the fact that he saved it until last, it got them most applause from the Democrats, and he was more passionate about it than anything else he spoke about by far. > > To ban it from a conversation about the speech leaves there nothing to talk about. > > You might as well close the thread. > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > That’s why, every so often when they remodel an old government office, they stumble across a pile of century-old alcohol registraton forms. > [@panaccione](#): > > Debaser, there are 300+ million guns in this country. Opposition to gun control is irrationally fierce. To think that gun registration will result in confiscation, at any point in your lifetime, is not only incredibly naive, but also irresponsible. We have a half dozen gun threads going and one thread on the SotU. Any more attempts to hijack this thread into gun control will receive Warnings. As to the claim that removing gun control would remove any point to the thread, that smacks of tunnel vision. Immigration, Global Warming, Minimum Wage, and a number of other topics were prominent in the address and provide fodder for a number of observations. **[/Moderating]** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-state-of-the-union-lets-go/650142.md?page=9)