Prof. Bruno Pierri Istituzioni politiche anglo-americane e analisi dei linguaggi specifici

1. Prof. Bruno PierriIstituzioni politiche anglo-americane e analisi dei linguaggi specifici State of the Union Address: A Philological Analysis March 19th, 2009

2. State of the Union Address • Annual message President gives in before joint session of Congress and held in House of Rep. in Jan-Feb: • Outline condition of the nation • Outline legislative proposals for following year • President not permitted to enter House Chamber without formal "invitation“ of Congress

3. Historical Roots • (Article II, Section 3, US Constitution): “He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” • Traditionally message has taken form of annual speech • Modelled on UK monarch's Speech from the Throne during State Opening of Parliament: A) Crown opens Parliament through State Opening – beginning of Parliamentary Year B) Crown informs Parliament of Govt plans for new legislation in speech delivered in House of Lords C) Govt draws up content

4. Speech/Written Text • 1801: T. Jefferson regarded speech too monarchical and chose to write a text and have it read by a clerck • 1913: W. Wilson re-established speech

5. The Designated Survivor • Member of Cabinet who stays at a physically distant, secure, and undisclosed location when President delivers address (Govt members present) • Continuity of Govt in line with presidential succession in the remote possibility of catastrophic event wiping out Govt • Practice originated during Cold War • Order of Presidential Succession: • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President pro tempore of the Senate • Secretary of State • Secretary of the Treasury • Secretary of Defence……..

6. Obama’s Speech • Obama delivered speech to joint session of Congress on February 24, 2009 • Not an official State of the Union Address • Points of discussion: • $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 • Troubled Assets Relief Program • Economy • Future of the country • Designated Survivor: Attorney General Eric Holder

7. Concern = preoccupazione To be affected = essere interessati, coinvolti Weight = peso, dimensione Reach = portata Overnight = dalla sera alla mattina Housing market = mercato immobiliare Stock market = mercato azionistico To sink-sank-sunk = affondare sources of energy = fonti energetiche health care = assistenza sanitaria To eat up = finire di mangiare, erodere savings = risparmi short-term gains = guadagni a breve termine To prize = apprezzare Wealth = riccheza Wealthy = ricco To be gutted = essere sventrato, svuotato healthy market = mercato sano, integro Boldly and wisely = audacemente e saggiamente jumpstart = mettere in moto con cavi (rimettere in moto) To lend = dare in prestito Mindful = consapevole hardship = avversità economic growth = crescita economica Mayor = sindaco To be held accountable = essere ritenuto responsabile Proven = comprovato, collaudato ferret out = scovare Waste = spreco Flow = flusso Lifeblood = linfa vitale Loan = prestito Purchase = acquisto housing crisis = crisi immobiliare Bank-book = libretto bancario household = famiglia Bailout = vie d’uscita, To bail out = pagare la cauzione/tirar fuori dai guai Reckless = scondiderato taxpayer = contribuente To putter along = arrancare To yield = dare la precedenza Purpose = obbiettivo/finalità To reward = ricompensare Mortgage = mutuo To hire = affittare/assumere Upheaval = crisi In the wake of = sulla scia di Glossary

8. Quotations to Debate • “for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others” = This is target: I want to tax the rich in order for them to contribute to the nation’s effort • “You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day” = Crisis affects whole society: Even the rich can see someone living in bad conditions. Justification for previous statement • “our economy did not fall into decline overnight” = Many mistakes and bad policies in the past. I’m not responsible for crisis, but I accept challenge • “We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before.  The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform “ = My policy real breakthrough. Former Administration reckless, since they knew what problems were, but they carried on along wrong path. Also a political message. New energy sources in order to be less dependant on Middle East oil • “A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future” = liberal statement, but not socialist. Surplus must be invested, not donated to the poor • “Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t” = Big Govt is always disliked by Americans. Capitalism and federalism

9. Quotations to Debate • “I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardships” = Govt must spend more, but the aim is always to revive US capitalism, based on jobs, people, middle-class • “the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy” = banks to be reformed, but Govt is not against banks, backbone of capitalism. Again message of détente to business and upper classes: I’m not against you, I’m just saying that we must be united • “while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade” = Public money necessary to restart US capitalism. Better to spend more now than having weak economy for 10 years. Public spending as investment • “In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. […] In each case, government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise” = Purpose of economic reformations and public spending is not socialist society, or class-struggle. Purpose is to enlarge middle-class, according to spirit of Constitution

10. Car Driver Language • Obama often uses automobile language: • to jumpstart job creation • an economy that sputters along • yield to the politics of the moment • Every-day language average Americans (car drivers) can easily understand • President means: I come from common family background and I realise your problems. I’m not distant from you