President Barack Obama spoke for 52 minutes to the nation emphasizing his plan of action, accountability, responsibility and a strong sense that “this nation will not fail.”  The President spoke openly about the seriousness of our nation’s economic status and the great impact on families, businesses, cities and states. Obama was direct while limiting the details discussed.

“I get it.  Believe me, I get it,” he said, in knowing the difference between bailing out Wall Street and helping Main Street.

Three major program areas that the President believes will help to boost the economy and make our nation stronger are Renewable Energy, Health Care and Education.

Missouri is already helping to create jobs in road construction and bridge rebuilding.  Work on the Osage River Bridge at Tuscumbia was literally the first stimulus project in the country. Other projects remain “shovel ready”.

Speaking of the housing crisis, Obama said:

Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.

Noting that it is easy to “become cynical and doubtful,” Obama said he has learned that “hope is found in unlikely places.”

Now is the time for each of us to put our energies into hoping… and helping.