Today, President Obama was sworn into his second term in office at the 57th Inauguration Ceremony inWashington,D.C. His inaugural address focused on national unity, using the phrase “we the people” as a refrain. President Obama discussed the Social Security program during his address, pledging to strengthen and modernize American’s safety net and social programs. The commitments we as Americans make to each other, President Obama stated, strengthen us as a nation. These commitments “do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” The President ended his pledge to uphold and strengthen the American safety net by stating, “We the people still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves but to all posterity.” President Obama tied the Social Security program into his theme of national unity: Our foundational values of tolerance, opportunity, human dignity, and justice require us to support our neighbor.
It will be interesting to see how President Obama maintains his support for Social Security as Congress continues infighting over the Federal budget. Remember that Congressional votes and Presidential vetoes will have the power to concretely affect your rights and benefits over President Obama’s next term. If you believe that the Social Security disability programs are an important part of American government, you have the right to contact your representatives in Congress and let them know. You can find out who your Congressperson here, and your Senator here.
