Vice President Biden visits Plymouth State University to discuss jobs and the economy

Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden came to Plymouth State University on an official White House visit on Thurs., Oct. 20 to talk to students about jobs, the economy, and investment in research, development, and education.

An audience of nearly 400 PSU students, faculty members, and local officials filled Heritage Hall to hear the Vice President speak.

"This is an historic event," said President Sara Jayne Steen of the visit. "What an extraordinary opportunity for Plymouth State University students… to hear from, interact with, and ask questions of the Vice President of the United States."

Vice President Biden, acting on behalf of the Obama administration, has been all around the country lobbying for the American Jobs Act, "making the case for the need to act now… not next week, not next month, not next year, but now," to combat rising unemployment rates and an America that is falling behind in education and innovation.

Vice President Biden says that he and President Obama have been consistently focused on one goal since taking office, "to restore confidence in the middle class of America… that that American dream is still in reach."

"Where is it written that your generation, and this country, cannot dominate the world economically as we have?" asked Biden of the audience, calling our generation "the most capable ever produced" by our nation.

"There are two visions," on how to solve the current economic state, said Biden. There are those who "truly do believe that an unregulated Wall Street is the most efficient and most effective way to allocate capital into the markets," and want to continue to lower taxes for the wealthiest one or two percent.

"The other vision says that we are strongest when everybody carries their fair share… that cutting isn't enough, that we have to invest in education and innovation," said Biden, who favors the second vision.

"The path to prosperity in this country has always rested on the understanding that we educate, we innovate and we build better than the rest of the world," said Biden, reinforcing some of the fundamental goals of the Jobs Act including preventing layoffs to educators and investing in infrastructure to create jobs.

Despite Biden's rhetoric of support for students and higher education, the Vice President did not delve into the issues most pertinent to college students nearing graduation: how to pay for their education and how to prepare for entering a vulnerable job market.

"Each generation should not only have the same opportunity but a better opportunity than the previous generation… You are the future. You need the opportunities," said Biden to the crowd, though he did not advise students on where to find these opportunities, nor did he assure them that these opportunities would even exist for them upon graduation.

Following his speech, Vice President Biden stepped down from the podium to get closer with the crowd and answer some of the audience's questions. Biden took questions from two members of the crowd.

One former student voiced concerns about Social Security. Biden brushed off the question, saying that Social Security is the least of our concerns.

After his visit, Biden made a stop in Concord, N.H. to file candidacy papers for President Obama and he to appear on the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot.