FDR's Bill of Rights
Blogger laura k over at we move to canada (because, really, you know at this point you want to) has a thoughtful post on a "man well ahead of his time," our 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Bob Herbert wrote about Roosevelt today, and reminds us that FDR had progressive goals the likes of which seem ridiculous to even dream about under the current regime. As Herbert says, 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.

As an example of how radical FDR's policies seem in comparison with today, Herbert uses Roosevelt's January 11, 1944 State of the Union address, in which Roosevelt proposed a "second Bill of Rights", including:

"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."

As laura says, Now, sixty years after FDR's death, we've come a long way. Backwards.

Update: While researching FDR for this post, I came across the White House website biography of FDR. Check this out:

By 1935 the Nation had achieved some measure of recovery, but businessmen and bankers were turning more and more against Roosevelt's New Deal program. They feared his experiments, were appalled because he had taken the Nation off the gold standard and allowed deficits in the budget, and disliked the concessions to labor. Roosevelt responded with a new program of reform: Social Security, heavier taxes on the wealthy, new controls over banks and public utilities, and an enormous work relief program for the unemployed.

In 1936 he was re-elected by a top-heavy margin. Feeling he was armed with a popular mandate, he sought legislation to enlarge the Supreme Court, which had been invalidating key New Deal measures. Roosevelt lost the Supreme Court battle, but a revolution in constitutional law took place. Thereafter the Government could legally regulate the economy.

Amazing. Equating social security with "Heavier taxes on the wealthy." "Feeling he was armed with a popular mandate." Sound like a certain chickenhawk we know? For the last freaking time, you're not popular and you have no mandate. They just can't resist, can they?
- posted by TJ @ 7:21 PM