A Radical in the White House

Bob Herbert really bugs me. Here's his paean to the New Deal:

A Radical in the White House

That more wasn't made of this anniversary is not just a matter of time; it's a measure of the distance the U.S. has traveled from the egalitarian ideals championed by F.D.R. His goal was "to make a country in which no one is left out." That kind of thinking has long since been consigned to the political dumpster. We're now in the age of Bush, Cheney and DeLay, small men committed to the concentration of big bucks in the hands of the fortunate few.

To get a sense of just how radical Roosevelt was (compared with the politics of today), consider the State of the Union address he delivered from the White House on Jan. 11, 1944.

Roosevelt referred to his proposals in that speech as "a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race or creed."

Among these rights, he said, are:

"The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation.

"The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation.

"The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living.

"The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.

"The right of every family to a decent home.

"The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.

"The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment.

"The right to a good education."

I want to point out that even F.D.R. said "adequate" and "decent"--not the right to waste your money on a fancy car with no insurance, crash it, and then have the government come to your rescue and finance your color TV with cable, designer clothes, fancy lifestyle.

When F.D.R. started the US down the path to socialism, people were starving in the streets, small farmers were driven from their land, and hardworking individuals were unable to find work at any wage... these people were just hoping for "adaquate" and "decent." Now, people feel they are entitled to a ghetto-fabulous dreamworld without lifting a finger.