United States of Whatever?

Last night Bush unleashed his State of the Union on the American nation again.

It seemed like a speech filled with elements of hope at first sight. He wants the US to cut down its oil addiction, and would want to cut the oil consumption with 75% by 2025. Above all, he wants to import less foreign oil – I’m sorry – Mid-Eastern oil. Bush is hoping to come to this by building zero-emission coal power-plants, new nuclear power-plants and by raising the investments in research for alternative energy by 22%.

Obviously it is a good thing the United States recognise the problem and – albeit too much long term planning – want to do something about it. On the other hand it seems America will be closing borders by doing this, this speech being the herald of recognising a defeat in the world economy, as an innovative nation, going back to doctrines from the past due to which America refused to interfere abroad. Nevertheless he said he doesn’t want to be an isolationist. Nor protectionists for the record, but of course this really only goes when American interests aren’t at stake in reality.

Also Bush pointed out many see his ‘spreading of democracy’ as vain idealism. Personally I don’t think it’s vain, it is much more of an imperfect idealism. How is it possible to talk about this sort of things after just denying the outcome of Palestinian elections? Why does this only go for countries in which the US have economical interests?

A transscript of Bush's speech