In my opinion, the third period of our American Experience, 1932 to 2012, is about to end. All things considered during the last eight decades must be reconsidered.
In the beginning of the Roosevelt era, America was beginning to understand and flex it's industrial muscle as a world power. It had finally recognized the rights of women and was slowly progressing beyond it's "Jim Crow" days. The industrial revolution, great works of American invention and industrialization were showering citizens with wondrous gifts of material convenience, utility, and pleasure. However, in this mix of great events it became apparent that large portions of the population were slow in receiving the benefits of an advanced age. For many the divide of rich and poor became a deep wound to the national conscience.
Electrification and material gains came slow to rural areas. The power and money brokers of the great centers of commerce became giddy and embarrassingly arrogant with their wealth. News muckrakers and great writers were able to communicate these injustices to a growing population of literate citizens. Radicals of all political stripes stepped forward and demanded change. Many, at the time, perceived a cruel reverse to the American ideal of equality and the universal everyman.
To this mix came Franklin D. Roosevelt. The first great social progressive of the century with the political clout to effect significant changes. With stirring oratory and a full platter of new ideas in a time of desperate economics and world war he changed the texture of our culture. Essentially he began a new compact between the federal government and it's people.
I believe Roosevelt's really big idea and "new deal" was that the government would and could replace the church, individual, local community, and family in the care and responsibility of citizens at the middle and lower economic classes. The concept that government could guide it's citizens and businesses to an increasingly brighter future was introduced and slowly enacted. Old age income, jobs, housing, insurance, medical care, food, education, childcare, and an endless array of material and social needs would be provided by the government for it's poor and middle income citizens. These items would be paid for by taxpyers, rich citizens, and businesses. The federal government would levy a series of voluntary and involuntary taxes, payments, and fees to fund the new programs. The first great program was Social Security and at the time it seemed a reasonable idea. People would give a portion of their wages to the government. The government would hold the money in trust while the participant aged. At retirement age the Social Security participant would receive repayment of his contributions and a lifetime stipend to provide a comfortable retirement.
Over the decades, despite a variety of presidents and political changes, the basic idea introduced by Franklin Roosevelt has endured and been wildly expanded. It has become a tradition and ingrained part of our culture that the federal government holds a dominant position in the material well being of it's citizens. Over the years, this assumption has been fervently supported and defended by unions, churches, academics, lobbyists, artists, politicians, and leaders of the print and electronic media.
Although many social observers have warned that the benevolence of the federal government has destroyed the family, demotivated individuals from a sense of personal responsibility, and unjustly redistributed the nations treasure, little in entitlement programs has changed. Also with absolutely no justification in our Constitution, these welfare programs have grown to absurd levels of waste and duplicity. Over the years, these lively debates and arguments have failed to effect meaningful change or reform. Now, the situation has come to a crisis because the costs have outstripped the available revenue from taxes. Because of the countless programs and complex expensive networks of government bureaucracies our nation approaches bankruptcy. Unfortunately, most contemporary politicians fail to comprehend or admit the simple math and unconstitutional nature of the crisis. Indeed, many are content to argue continuation and expansion of these costly federal programs.
Without fail, a new chapter in American history will begin soon and with all things considered the only question will be if that change comes by way of the ballot box or a long national nightmare of bullets. Thank God we still have our votes and God help us if common sense and a return to our constitutional values fail in the next few election cycles.
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