Enough already: the State of the Union speech serves no purpose, and should end

By Ben Jacobs

The State of the Union is constitutionally mandated. But a president appearing in person before Congress is not. For years, the update was delivered in writing. Nationally televised orations like tonight's are a relatively recent innovation — and as they become more of a spectacle each year, it's become increasingly clear they're no longer worth the trouble.

Woodrow Wilson created the modern tradition of State of the Union addresses in 1913, when he appeared in person before Congress. Prior to Wilson, almost all presidents had submitted their yearly updates on paper.

But Wilson surely didn't anticipate what's happened in the years since. The State of the Union has evolved into a piece of political theater. Invitations to sit with the First Lady are eagerly sought, and TV networks keep score of standing ovations like they were sports statistics. Pundits pore over seating arrangements, trying to infer political significance.

The in-person address may have served a purpose once, but now it's a distracting spectacle. Indeed, the state of union would be better off without the State of the Union.

Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images: Police place barricades before the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill tonight.