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FDR and the Unfinished Agenda -- Discussion

Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:10:05 AM EST

Originaly posted Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:54:49 AM CST, updating as we continue to highlight FDR through the September 30 anniversary of his 6th Fireside Chat

In their five part series, FDR and the Unfinished Agenda, ePluribus Media writer Chris White and researcher AvaHome take a hard look at FDR and his enduring legacy. One quote sums up FDR's prescience:

[A]t the end of another century we shall have all American industry controlled by a dozen corporations and run by perhaps a hundred men. Put plainly, we are steering a steady course toward economic oligarchy."

What lessons could this current administration learn from FDR, whom many call the greatest president since Lincoln?

ePluribus Contributors and fact checkers include: jeninri, aaron barlow, cache, greyhawk, standingup, stoy, Vivian, cho and roxy

If you like what ePMedia's been doing with research, reviews and interviews, please consider donating to help with our efforts.

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

FDR and the Unfinished Agenda -- Discussion | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 hidden)

Big Thank You!!!!! (5.00 / 5) (#1)

Got back from school tonight to find this. Just to say big thank you to Cho, Avahome, Standingup, JeninRI,Roxy Cache and everyone else who helped with this. I think its terrific what you all did. I don't know you all so I'm sure Im missing some, but be thanked too!

by Chris White on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 11:30:36 PM EST

: Good work, Chris and Avahome (5.00 / 4) (#8)

I hope you don't mind that I'm going to take this series one day at a time and savor it rather than reading all five parts at once... I think it deserves that kind of thoughtful consideration after all the work that went into it.
Major kudos to the both of you, and to everyone who helped with the editorial and publication process.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
by wanderindiana on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:48:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I am inspired...................... (5.00 / 5) (#2)

I want to sit right down and write this man a letter! Where or where is the "Brain Trust" now.....and would our government be smart enough to even search let alone listen?

What a terrific time I had working on this project...... I admit I was pretty clueless as to FDR and the New Deal. NO FEAR!

by avahome on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:29:40 AM EST

Terrific job! (5.00 / 4) (#3)

This series may not focus on the crisis "du jour," but it helps us see what a true statesperson could do to bring our country back from the brink! Kudos to you, Avahome, and Chris for a great job. and thanks to Greyhawk for getting us the crosspost at Kos this morning

FDR Part 1

by Cho on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:36:24 AM EST

: Yes.......thank you GreyHawk...... (5.00 / 3) (#6)

It sure takes a village to get things done on the internets!!!!!!!!! Fine fine job done by all!
NO FEAR!

by avahome on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:26:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Great job, Chris and Ava! (5.00 / 4) (#4)

Very well written, and quite timely.

by GreyHawk on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:43:53 AM EST

: Thank you from me too (5.00 / 4) (#9)

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 12:16:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

History provides context (5.00 / 4) (#5)

But has our "C student" of a President learned anything from FDR's battle with the world and domestic economies?

I'm thinking not and certainly agree that we find ourselves a bigger economic basket case because of this Administration's war follies.

Safer? Not. More secure? Not. Economically exposed? You betcha.

Great job Chris, avahome and the whole ePM crew. I look forward to reading the remainder of the series.

by polydactyl on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:49:59 AM EST

The so-called under class (5.00 / 3) (#11)

I hope what will come from this is an appreciation that the country cannot be divided into haves and have nots. Your series showed what nature in her fury can do to strip away the illusions, and what the country has been left with in the wake. And the ones with the titles of responsiblity have no idea, either of what happened, or of what to do. It does not bode well for when real economic bad times come again. The line between something, not much and nothing at all has really shrunk, and so few seem to care.

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 01:14:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

On the illusionary nature (5.00 / 2) (#13)

of the class structure in our country is a conversation we are still waiting to have. Still.

The cynical among us say that there is no difference between $150 Starter Jersey and a $150 Lacoste buttoned-down oxford shirt except the truer nature of the man who wears them.

I view things more optimistically along the lines of where you put your head down at night. In my little community the "haves" have a concrete foundation, the "climbers" tread on plywood, the "aspirers" pad across sagging particle board (that'd be me), and I know some truly "have nots" that still have dirt floors.

But what keeps it together for me continues to be the inspiration I draw from the people that I have seen who have lost it all or never had it to begin with.

If our elected representatives were statesmen and not politicians, they'd have a better notion of who the people are and where their priorities lie at the very heart of their existence.

FDR got that.

by polydactyl on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 04:02:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Another FDR needed. (5.00 / 1) (#14)

That is the only thing that will save this country. And have you given me an idea!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks.

by Terri Emerick on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 04:15:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's great (5.00 / 2) (#16)

That's great Terri, I'm sure you'll have more to say when you're goood and ready to do so!

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 05:57:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

: Like wander, (5.00 / 1) (#20)

I want to take my time w/yours and savor it.

by Terri Emerick on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 07:02:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

In every city (5.00 / 3) (#15)

There are places nice people won't, can't don't go. SE DC used to be called the "war zone" because of the killings. What the eyes can't see the heart don't grieve over. It's been ignored at least since the 60's in one way when the cities went up, and obviously it is really deeply etched into the fabric of the conutry, but the country continues to look through its fingers at its peril.

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 05:54:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

: Know something? (5.00 / 2) (#19)

You just described the neighborhood that I lived in when I was in grad school for one reason--it was cheap, but, its necessary to move out. Really sad thing is that so many more want to, but can't. And I know this will sound strange, but in a way, I miss it.

by Terri Emerick on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 07:00:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nodding my head... (5.00 / 4) (#7)

I am so glad you all put this project together. Thanks so much.

Best,

Jeff

by Jeff Huber on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:45:48 AM EST

: Thank you Jeff (5.00 / 2) (#10)

Appreciate what you do!

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 12:18:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Great work! (5.00 / 4) (#12)

And a great reminder of how a country CAN work together even under the most adverse of conditions.

Fabulous job Chris and Ava.

by susie dow on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:31:09 PM EST

: Thank you too! (none / 0) (#17)

Thanks for your kind words Susie, and for promoting those torture stories!

by Chris White on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 06:01:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Counter the Raw Deal with another New Deal (5.00 / 2) (#18)

The Republicans flinched, blanched, and fought the imposition of the original "New Deal," yet once again our nation finds itself in the slowly swirling and stagnant quagmire that only a Republican majority can provide.

We need another "New Deal" to fix things, yet again.

by GreyHawk on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 06:26:14 PM EST

: George Santayana (5.00 / 2) (#21)

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
Had a history prof who always said that!

by Terri Emerick on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 07:08:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
: I think so too (none / 0) (#29)

Yes, new thinking about politics and economics. New team. I'm sorry not to have replied before. Roosevelt and company had worked on things, they knew what they wanted to do, and how to do it, it would be great to find a way to help that along today.

by Chris White on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 09:59:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm running for the NY State Senate.... (5.00 / 2) (#22)

...in the 41st District. It includes Hyde Park. The last time a Democrat represented this district in the state capitol was in 1910 when FDR won his first state-wide election. I intend to be the next.

Here in NY, we need a NEW New Deal, of sorts. We need to put the concerns of the PEOPLE of New York first...ahead of the corporate interestes that have bankrupted the state, financially and spirtually.

Thanks for this timely series. Well done, epm.

Well done, ePM.

by NYBri on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:36:10 PM EST

Kudos Part 4 and a venting (5.00 / 1) (#23)

Recovery or Revolution

Berle's counsel to FDR was strong...were that we had both a strong candidate for 2008 and equally strong counsel behind that candidate.

Today's installment while it focuses on the "Brain Trust" has me thinking about how it really was an unpopular battle against the rising oligarchy and doing what needed to be done to bring back, or level the playing field of the human condition.

We have lost so much ground in that war today. Lost it to Bu$hCo and their support of our feudalistic corporate overlords. Our loss in this fight represents the seizure of American government to serve a new purpose -- the promotion of corporate wealth and power.

Bu$hCo and their deep-pocketed collaborators support every coercive and oppressive function of government, but call it tyranny if government does something for you - using "their" money, These cheap-labor Republicans have no problem at all opening the public purse for corporate interests. It's social spending on people who actually need assistance that they just can't tolerate.

These are the same folks who constantly whine about morality, virtue, respect for authority, hard work and other "values". The bankruptcy bill gives them a perfect opportunity to blame your being "over a barrel" on your own immorality, lack of "values" and poor choices.

These same corporate interests encourage racism, misogyny, homophobia and other forms of bigotry. Why? Bigotry among wage earners distracts them, and keeps them from recognizing their common interests as wage earners.

They don't like the minimum wage, or other improvements in wages and working conditions. These reforms undo all of their efforts to keep you over a barrel. They oppose a woman's right to choose. Why? Unwanted children are an economic burden that put poor women over a barrel, forcing them to work cheap. They don't like unions because when labor sticks together wages go up. Seems workers don't like being over a barrel.

This administration likes budget deficits and a huge national debt for two reasons. A bankrupt government has a harder time doing any social spending and wealthy cheap-labor conservatives like say, George W. Bush, buy the bonds and then earn tax free interest on the money they lend the government. Check out Mr. Comma's financial disclosures. The tool of punctuation is a big holder of the T-bills that finance the deficit he is helping to expand.

Whew...I feel better now. I guess I was having an Edwards moment.

by polydactyl on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 12:21:24 PM EST

Columbia (5.00 / 2) (#24)

What really got to me Polydactyl was that both Berle and Tugwell taught at Columbia U, right there on Morningside Heights in NY,NY. Tugwell's profile of the roaring 20's economy and its vulnerabilities was really prescient. But in those days it was possible to work in a university and do that stuff. I don't think it is any more, because the economic thinking went out the window real quickly after World War II.

Be prepared for something on what things look like when you do what Tugwell and Berle did in the 20's today. It is not pretty, but will really help, I think.

by Chris White on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 04:29:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks for the series Chris (5.00 / 1) (#25)

I've really enjoyed it...savoring the articles, one at a time.

by polydactyl on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 05:11:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

: Thanks Polydactyl (5.00 / 1) (#26)

I've enjoyed your comments!

by Chris White on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 11:14:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Party of Rosoevelt and Truman (5.00 / 3) (#27)

In remarks yesterday, George Bush chastised the Democratic Party for ceasing to be the party of Roosevelt and Truman. Why? His answer as reported by CNN was because Democrats want to "cut and run" from Iraq.

There is only one way that Bush and his speechwriters can hope to get away with such effrontery--and that is by forgetting FDR's legacy.

This series of articles on FDR's should help to turn that deplorable situation around and remind us all of what the Democratic Party once was, and can be again.

by carol white on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:46:47 AM EST

Kudos to you guys from the FDR Museum (none / 0) (#28)

In case you all missed it: Dr. Plaud over on Kos commented on Chris's and Avahome's work:

Congratulations!

On a wonderful summary of the New Deal years. We will link to your series on our FDR Museum website.
Cordially,
Dr. Joe Plaud

FDR American Heritage Center Museum
FDR Heritage Museum

by Cho on Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 07:17:48 PM EST

FDR and the Unfinished Agenda -- Discussion | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 hidden)

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