Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed the face of America. In 1944, he composed an economic bill of rights for America. He was able it institute part of it, and Republicans opposed it then and have worked to dismantle it ever since. Roosevelt understood the needs of Main Street Americans 67 years ago. Listening to the clip below, it struck me that we have forgotten the lessons of the 1920s and 1930s and are reliving them in 2000s and 2010s. But where is FDR when we need him?
On Jan. 11, 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave an historic State of the Union address. In it he outlined an economic Bill of Rights…
…Many progressives have argued that it’s time to move on, that the FDR era and its supposedly moth-eaten legacy, ideas and ideals are no match for a 21st Century dominated by globalization and multinational oligarchy. In fact, the New Deal itself was a modest affair and all those rights Roosevelt spoke of 67 years ago are still unattained. But are they not worth seeking still?
We live in a time when the successors of the rightist plot to overthrow Roosevelt seek to pulverize the gem of his presidency, Social Security. Shamefully, they have allies for their efforts within FDR’s own party. In terms of inequality of wealth and income, we are worse off than we were in ’44. Higher education, decent housing, adequate health care and, of course, a "useful and remunerative" job are beyond the reach of far too many Americans. Should we not look upon those facts with shame and horror?
With a little tweaking – some mention of a sustainable environment, for instance – the excerpt from Roosevelt’s speech would make a fine addition to any State of the Union address today… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Daily Kos>
The roadmap is right there. FDR spelled out exactly want we need to do to make our nation equal in practice the beacon on the hill that our founders intended it to be. The Republican Party stands in the way. Obama must become the leader who will fight for this reality, or we must find one who will.
4 Responses to “A Flashback to FDR”
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I don’t suppose it would help to point out that the populist ideals and devotion to Keynesian economics of FDR are, in large part, to blame for the fiasco we’re in now.
It would only help if what you are saying were accurate. But over 90% of the current debt result from the supply-side economics of Greenspan.
You’re missing the point. The point is that had FDR not opened the flood gates (and Woodrow Wilson is far from blameless too) then Mr. Greenspan would never have had the opportunity to do so. As for the accuracy… pick up a history book and see for yourself.
I’m notr missing the point. You’re manufacturing the history. Over 90 percent of the current federal debt was incurred under Republicans.