As a nation, we are in debt up to our eyeballs. Most middle class families now know what that eventually leads to... the proverbial shit hitting the fan. Now that we are, individually, experiencing a financial crisis, how long until we, as a country, suffer the same? 'Cause I hate to say it, folks, but this "crunch" we're feeling now is nothing compared with what's to come if our government doesn't do some serious debt consolidation.
But now read how our financial crisis was handled the first time around:
The Complete Book of United States History
[emphasis and comments mine]
Part 2: Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
In 1932, it was again time for U.S. citizens to elect a president. The Republicans renominated Herbert Hoover, who had been president since the Great Depression began. The Democrats nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the governor of New York.
Franklin Roosevelt felt that the national government had to start helping Americans who were hurt by the depression. He believed that "To ... unfortunate citizens, aid must be extended by the government -- not as a matter of charity but as a matter of social duty." He promised that if he were elected president, he would help end the depression with "a new deal for the American people."
The American people believed Franklin's promise of a "New Deal." They proved it by electing him president in 1932.
The New Deal: New Agencies, New Laws
March 4, 1933, was a chilly, somber day. It also was the day the Franklin Delano Roosevelt became president of the United States. First, he took the oath of office that every president takes. Then, he made his first speech as president. He said, "This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He also told the American people "this is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously."
President Roosevelt did not just talk about change. He acted, too. One of the first things he did was set up a series of new agencies. [someone read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"] Each of these agencies helped to put unemployed Americans back to work.
One of the agencies President Roosevelt set up was the Works Progress Administration, the WPA. The WPA put the unemployed to work building and repairing bridges, roads, and public buildings; writing guidebooks; and creating murals. The Civilian Conservation Corps, the CCC, was another important agency. It put young, unmarried men to work planting trees, building forest trails, and doing other things that conserved the natural environment. Then, there was the National Youth Administration, the NYA. It offered part-time work for students so they would stay in school.
[I'm not sure that such a plan would work this time around; in fact, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't. How can the government pay workers if the government itself is in debt for over ten trillion dollars? And speaking of the national debt...Where the hell is that surplus we had eight years ago?!]
As you can see, many of the New Deal agencies came to be known by their initials. There were so many that President Roosevelt's government was sometimes called a "government by alphabet." Even the president himself became known as FDR.
Under President Roosevelt, the government also passed a series of laws to help the citizens especially hurt by the depression. For example, to help farmers keep their farms, the Agricultural Adjustment Act set prices on some farm products. To help homeowners keep their homes, the Home Owners Loan Act helped people pay their mortgages. [How were these programs financed? The money has to come from somewhere.]
The Social Security Act of 1935 was another very important new law. It provided the elderly with a monthly pension, or retirement income. It also gave money to the states to help them care for the homeless, the visually handicapped, and other needy Americans.
What the New Deal Did
The New Deal did not end unemployment in the country. Neither did it bring the depression to its knees. However, the New Deal did help Americans believe in America again. It showed that the government has a responsibility to help its citizens when its citizens need help.
Franklin Roosevelt felt that the national government had to start helping Americans who were hurt by the depression. He believed that "To ... unfortunate citizens, aid must be extended by the government -- not as a matter of charity but as a matter of social duty." He promised that if he were elected president, he would help end the depression with "a new deal for the American people."
The American people believed Franklin's promise of a "New Deal." They proved it by electing him president in 1932.
The New Deal: New Agencies, New Laws
March 4, 1933, was a chilly, somber day. It also was the day the Franklin Delano Roosevelt became president of the United States. First, he took the oath of office that every president takes. Then, he made his first speech as president. He said, "This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He also told the American people "this is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously."
President Roosevelt did not just talk about change. He acted, too. One of the first things he did was set up a series of new agencies. [someone read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"] Each of these agencies helped to put unemployed Americans back to work.
One of the agencies President Roosevelt set up was the Works Progress Administration, the WPA. The WPA put the unemployed to work building and repairing bridges, roads, and public buildings; writing guidebooks; and creating murals. The Civilian Conservation Corps, the CCC, was another important agency. It put young, unmarried men to work planting trees, building forest trails, and doing other things that conserved the natural environment. Then, there was the National Youth Administration, the NYA. It offered part-time work for students so they would stay in school.
[I'm not sure that such a plan would work this time around; in fact, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't. How can the government pay workers if the government itself is in debt for over ten trillion dollars? And speaking of the national debt...Where the hell is that surplus we had eight years ago?!]
As you can see, many of the New Deal agencies came to be known by their initials. There were so many that President Roosevelt's government was sometimes called a "government by alphabet." Even the president himself became known as FDR.
Under President Roosevelt, the government also passed a series of laws to help the citizens especially hurt by the depression. For example, to help farmers keep their farms, the Agricultural Adjustment Act set prices on some farm products. To help homeowners keep their homes, the Home Owners Loan Act helped people pay their mortgages. [How were these programs financed? The money has to come from somewhere.]
The Social Security Act of 1935 was another very important new law. It provided the elderly with a monthly pension, or retirement income. It also gave money to the states to help them care for the homeless, the visually handicapped, and other needy Americans.
What the New Deal Did
The New Deal did not end unemployment in the country. Neither did it bring the depression to its knees. However, the New Deal did help Americans believe in America again. It showed that the government has a responsibility to help its citizens when its citizens need help.
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