The National Center for Policy Analysis examins an article by Amity Shlaes called "The Real Deal" (it's at the WSJ Opinion Journal but subscribers only).
Though it's considered heresy, Shlaes points out what I've read before: instead of helping America out of the Great Depression as FDR is given credit for, he actually extended the economic malaise.
The NCPA piece doesn't go into any great detail, as I've read from other sources, but does point out some of the hairbrained ideas that came out of the socialist FDR administration.
Other sources I've read, including Larry Burkett, say it was the massive production engine we set in motion to fight WWII that brought the nation out of the Great Depression.
That is in keeping with every other example we've seen of socialism: it's incapable of lifting people up; it can only bring others down, and spreads the misery around a little more equally.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
FDR Policies Hurt the Economy
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4 comments:
I know nothing about economics, so I can't speak about whether or not the New Deal was good for the economy. I think it's totally possible that it could've damaged the economy. Who knows?
What I do know about the New Deal is that it helped a lot of people during a very difficult time. My great grandfather took part in the Civilian Conservation Corps here in SD. He was able to work and send money back to his parents and siblings. The CCC actually did help them survive the Depression. In fact, I probably wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the New Deal and the CCC.
So you can cry "socialism" all you want. But nothing you say is going to convince me that the New Deal is bad when it helped so many people. Sorry, Bob.
I'm sure the New Deal socialism helped people just like modern welfare does: it mortgages their dignity and future for momentary relief. My grandparents lived through the Depression and I've heard the stories, too. Do you actually think they wouldn't have survived the Depression without the New Deal? I don't. There had been severe depressions before that one, and people made it through. Americans have a tradition of helping one another when in need, but government intervention short-circuits that.
The New Deal not only extended the Great Depression, it opened the door wide to generations of welfare dependence and a great deal of socialist malaise that still plagues this country. Socialism just isn't the American Way.
Everyone's situation is different. It's wonderful that your grandparents were able to make it through without relying on New Deal programs. But not everyone was that lucky.
I agree with you that dependence on welfare is bad. But I strongly believe those programs can help people get on their feet, if they need it. Sometimes people need help taking a first step.
Those programs do too much good for American citizens to just be casually dismissed as socialsim.
My folks didn't make it through with flying colors. They were dirt poor. But they didn't believe in taking something from someone else unless it was absolutely necessary.
Socialism is what it is, regardless of whether we dismiss it or embrace it. And I would argue that they've done a tremendous amount of damage--to all segments of society, but especially to the black community. Socialism has made it possible to replace families and fathers with a welfare check. Many whites and other ethnic backgrounds have also been hit this way.
We would do much better to return to the private charity model we had in this country up until FDR. The Founders often resisted calls by some to dispense charity from the public coffers because they knew not only was it not good for society, it was legalized plunder. When someone helps another person willingly, two people are blessed.
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