We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the Internet, tools they needed to go as far as their efforts and their dreams will take them. That’s what middle-class economics is: the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, everyone plays by the same set of rules.
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That’s why the third part of middle-class economics is all about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.
21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure: modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet.
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Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline; let’s pass a bipartisan …
… infrastructure plan that could create more than 30 times as many jobs per year and make this country stronger for decades to come.
Let’s do it. Let’s get it done.
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Now, the truth is when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so.
Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, as long as everybody else does too.
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That’s why the third part of middle-class economics is all about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.
21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure: modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet.
Listen to the full 2015 State of the Union address here.