State of the union 1944. Socialist turning point?

This is from FDR in 1944. He states his famous 'second bill of rights'. He died about a year later, & the country was distracted by war, but it is interesting to think what might have been..

Was this a turning point away from socialism? These same principles were in the french socialist party pre ww2, & were part of the soviet constitution in 1936. Looking at this in hindsight, it seems terribly naive, but we have the history of the attempts at collectivism for the rest of the last century. It is interesting that a great many people, including those in actual power would think these things could be implemented by the govt.

But to be sure, there are many today who still think this is a reasonable list of 'rights'. They think govt can dictate this, & provide it.

Quote:
It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.
As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.
In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, 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 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.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.
For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.


How is it your right to take from me to use for yourself? This is the basic process of providing for the second bill of rights that fdr lists. If there is no appeal to self evident truths, then we are back to 'might makes right'. You have no basis to claim any rights, as it has been throughout history. Only might provides the power to secure your rights.

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'

You can leave god out of it.. earlier jefferson said, 'to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,' so you can go with 'nature' if you want.. he was not being denominational.

But without this appeal to natural rights of Man, we have nothing but the whims of govt power to determine what they are to protect, & this usually means the exploitation of the weak & minorities.



I see govt as being there to 'secure' my rights. If it fails in that charge, it is our right to alter or abolish it, and to institute NEW govt, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to us shall seem most likely to effect our Safety and Happiness.

This is not the majority deciding to screw the minority, or one powerful group oppressing another. It is a basic statement of human rights.. that ALL are entitled to. Govt is there to secure those rights for all, not just the moneyed elite, or the majority party, or the powerful. THAT is what makes the american experiment unique.. it was not just democracy.. it was democracy with a basis in an ideal.. and the ideal superseded what the majority wanted, if they should decide to exploit others. The american republic is not a majority that decides how to do everything, but a republic of laws that the nation abides by. The majority can tweak those laws, & change with the times, but the basic rights are immutable. The minority or 'outliers' as you call them, are protected from the tyranny of the majority. Govt becomes dictatorial when it no longer abides by the basic rules. When the majority think they can vote themselves special privileges, or take from others & violate their basic rights, the republic is over. It is a free for all, then, & we're back to survival of the fittest.


I'm not addressing any specific examples of govt overreach, but like a frog boiling in water, it is a gradual thing. From the beginning, americans have had a mistrust of govt.. we are not content to hope for a benign ruler, but wish to keep control of our system to keep the power grabbers at bay. Every generation has had to fight off the state centered ideology, with varying degrees of success. It is no different today, & tomorrow's generation will have the same battle. The state longs for supremacy, & the people have to keep them in check. Our 3 prong system is supposed to do that, but lately, they have worked together to ignore the constitution, & overreach in many areas.

I'm no conspiracy theorist, & don't believe the nation is in danger of wild eyed statists grabbing power & overrunning the white house, congress, & the supreme court. But we need to retain that citizen based system of govt, & not let it fall under the control of a ruling elite, or corporate media sponsored elections. We need our representatives to keep the faith.. to remain true to the vision of america, & not try to change it to some socialist utopia.

Is the Progressive Left Anti-American?

What is 'american'?  We know 'who' an american is: anyone born or naturalized as a citizen of america.  But what makes 'america' distinctly 'american'?  It is not the military, the police, firemen, the education system, money, or anything that is common to humans throughout history.  No, what makes america distinctly american is the basic philosophy of a govt of the people, by the people, & for the people.

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed'

This, in a nutshell, is the basis for america.  It is the unique idea in human history that govt should serve the people, & protect their liberties, rather than govt dictating to the people how they will live.  Freedom, independence, self-reliance, & opportunity are the basic ideals of this revolutionary concept of human govt.  Human history has seen it's fill of state centered ideology.  Kings, dictators, chairmen, generals, & ruling bodies have been the norm of human govt.. where the state is supreme, & the people are subservient   In the dream of america, the people are supreme.  The govt's duty is to protect & provide the freedoms of the people.  Anything more begins to infringe upon the liberties of the citizens.

The last few decades have seen an eroding of these american values.  We have seen a growth of a dependent class, with an entitlement mentality, promoting the idea that govt is responsible, not just to ensure our freedoms, but to provide all the necessities of life:  food, shelter, clothing, and medical care.  The govt is seen as a vehicle of social justice.. a tool to create a utopian paradise on earth, forcing redistribution of wealth.  This vision of america from the progressive left, is diametrically opposed to the central tenets of historic american values.  Progressives look longingly at europe, long a bastion of statist systems, & want to change our basic values to state centered, big brother style of governing systems.  They see a cradle to grave dependency as being desirable  & want to use govt to force economic 'fairness', where they tax the 'haves' & give to the 'have nots'.  They want an intrusive nanny state, not individual freedom & responsibility.

This collectivist mentality does not work.  It never has, & never will.  Socialism as a governing system collapses upon itself, as there are not enough producers to support the growing dependent class.  They may succeed in revolutionary rhetoric, stirring up people with propaganda & lies to work against their best interests.  They may succeed in taking control of the power of govt, and levy stiff taxes on the producing classes to promote their concepts of economic justice.  But collectivist philosophies eventually run out of other people's money.  History is littered with the remains of failed collectivist experiments.  Even europe is giving us a modern preview of the harvest of socialism.  Greece, France, and many other nations in europe are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy & economic chaos, & many of the people still demand govt to keep the gravy train running.  But without a strong economic engine, & without a stable currency & freedom to make ventures & takes risks for rewards, the train jumps the tracks.  The statists can only call, 'all aboard!' & tell us to hop on the disabled train.  'We're not going anywhere, but we're making good time!'  They offer illusion & fantasy, and blame the only thing that can actually heal the problems they have created:  Freedom.

It is past time for americans to wake up to the direction we're going.  This is not our father's america.  We are being beguiled with false promises & lures of free stuff.  We're selling our birthright for a mess of pottage.  If we do not take control of our govt, & make it get back to being a govt that serves the people, then we will be just another state run, state centered bureaucracy  micromanaging the citizens & dictating to them how they will live.  If the citizens of america do not stop the drift to state centered ideology, the american experiment is over, & we will be just another statist nation.  We need to oppose & expose the progressive agenda, with it's anti-american goals, & anti-american ideals.  They only promote & offer more govt & state power, & less individual freedom.  The progressive left is the enemy of america.  They do not protect our life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness, but only offer more state domination.  If we continue down their chosen path, the dream of america will be over, & only the nightmare of statism will remain.

Making babies for fun & profit

Are you a third world woman of child bearing age?

Are you uneducated, poor, & have no marketable skills?

Would you like to have plenty of money, have your choice of men, & live like a princess?

Then you should read this, or have someone read it to you.

Don't pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity! You can live the life of your dreams, wear designer clothes, have a nice home, cars, & have men wanting to meet you!

All you need to do is come to America! Here, you'll get all this & more!

What would you pay for this opportunity? $10,000? $5,000? Well, the truth is, it won't cost you a penny. In fact, if you can have babies, you can have all the luxuries you've ever dreamed of, & america will pay YOU! That's right! Get yourself to america somehow.. visit a friend.. cross the border.. have someone take you, & once you have a baby, you're set for life! The more you have, the more you make.

Now you may think, 'I don't know, raising children is a lot of work'. But in america, you don't have to raise them. No! You can drop them off at the government paid baby sitting establishments, which are everywhere. That way you are free to make more babies, or party, or shop, or do the things YOU want to do!

Everything you ever dreamed of.. nice clothes, a home, a cell phone, food, & attentive men are yours if you can get yourself to america. Don't wait any longer! Make your plans, now! Once you're pregnant, go to any hospital. You don't even have to speak english. Just go in, & begin to receive the benefits you deserve. Soon you'll have money coming in, a home of your own, plenty of food to eat, & all you did was get pregnant! It's fun! It's easy! It's the most natural thing in the world, & YOU can do it!




I'm thinking of sending this to the state department, to print up & drop around the world.. why should only the neighboring poor have this opportunity? It's not fair for other 3rd world women to be discriminated against & not allowed to share in this benefit. Perhaps we should even start a transportation service for women in these other places. I'm sure there are young women in africa, china, and even europe that would love the opportunity.

ps.  This is a satirical commentary on american policies of promoting irresponsible childbirth.  I am not serious.