In 1936, our country was in an even more dire situation than we find ourselves in today. We were heading into the second dip of the Great Depression, with unemployment around 15%. The banking industry was fighting reforms, and monopolies ruled the economy.
But FDR didn’t let that stop him. He gave a now-famous speech at Madison Square Garden that challenged the idea that government was the problem:
Transcript:
For twelve years our Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to that Government but that Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent to mankind.
For nearly four years now you have had an administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. And I can assure you that we will keep our sleeves rolled up.
We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace: business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. And we know now that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob.
Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred.
As Fred Wickham points out, the parallels to the political situation today are manifold. The Republicans embrace government by organized money and want it to turn its back on the less fortunate. And Obama tries to appease them. As Wickham puts it “Obama, you do not need a speechwriter. It’s all here. You can say the same words.”
10 Comments
“… Government is best which is most indifferent to mankind” – sounds like FDR was describing Rick Perry who said, “I’ll work every day to try to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential in your life as I can.”
Similar quotes can be found from all the Republican presidential candidates.
It’s time for the new New Deal.
“And we know now that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob.”
What happens when the organized money and the organized mob stand on the same side?
This is maddening and heartbreaking. By the way, the recent recommendation to see “Inside Job” on this site was spot on. I’ve seen it, so should everyone who cares about our current financial fiasco.
Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I will try to make them like me.
-Barack Obama
That Guy asked…
“What happens when the organized money and the organized mob stand on the same side?”
If you add the Supreme Court to that list, we’re finding out now what happens.
Good point THATGUY.
Organized money and Fox turned a disorganized unfocused fearful crowd into a semi-organized Tea Party mob. They thought they could control the mob but maybe not. I don’t think organized money wanted default but they almost got it. The tail is wagging the dog now.
David Freeman; I am rereading “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L Shirer. Much of “mein kampf” is being quoted from an English translation. So much the same, so much the same. Hatred now is against the Muslims, while Germany’s hatred went against the Jewish. And the Army being the top power in post World War I Germany is exactly what is happening in Pakistan.
for anyone fearful of this book, it is written so it can’t be put down.
Patricia: I just want to keep recommending “inside Job” Explains Moody and S&P. LA is no longer going to use S&P for their ratings. These companies who are being bought should be boycotted.
Laurie, unfortunately the Supreme Court, or at least the majority of it, is already thoroughly entrenched in the “organized money” side of things.
I truly cannot understand the rationale behind corporations being people. Corporations are made up of people already! Each with their own vote and power to donate. Then you give the owners of the corporations the ability to pledge both their personal AND professional fortunes to the candidates they like. How many votes is that kind of financial influence worth?
I know that’s a bit of an off-topic rant, but it felt so right.
Exactly.
That Guy: The legal construct of a corporation being a “straw man” to take any falls for the owners begs to be interpreted as the Supreme Court interpreted it.
I’m pretty sure that if all of these corporations were still run by “real” people, we would at least have the leverage of personal shame to use against their abuses of power! However, I must admit that “I’m practicing law without a license!” 🙂