tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post1488401085906596393..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: FDR's wisdom: a need to revisitLarry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-81867729987698030352010-07-12T10:48:57.214-05:002010-07-12T10:48:57.214-05:00Given the condition of social security and medicar...Given the condition of social security and medicare programs, and the indicators presently emerging about Obamacare, why would FDR's thinking serve as a model for future direction in the US?<br /><br />An argument provided by liberals is the untestable claim that more people would have suffered and/or died had FDR's "safety nets" NOT been implemented, much like the Obama administration's claim that their fiscal policies prohibited even higher unemployment and foreclosures. This kind of argument is inherently weak, holding to no objective measurement, and can be used to excuse all sorts of mischief, mediocrity, and failure.<br /><br />Most liberal thinkers hold philosophically to a "constructivist epistemology" - that truth and knowledge about it are a cognitive contructions. Perception, according to this perspective, is as close to truth as one can get. Cynically, profering falsehood as truth is merely a way of shaping reality for these people.<br /><br />Use of subjective, untestable arguments is an attempt to leverage constructivism to get what one wants, whether the receiver of these arguments is even aware of constructivism as a concept. <br /><br />Hard evidence emerges every day that FDR and his adherents are failing the citizens of this once great country. Schools change tests to accomodate ignorance, news editors shape the news to influence popular belief, and legislative leaders manipulate procedures to limit the quality and nature of arguments (limiting access to facts) to ensure their side wins.<br /><br />But the objective quality of human experience can not be ignored and both now and in the future the price for ignoring facts and truth will be paid in the form of human suffering. <br /><br />People suffer whenever they interrupt the personal responsiblity circuit hardwired into our cognitive-emotional processing systems. In other words, when you get something for nothing, you're sense of self-worth is reduced.<br /><br />D. TaggartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-41209570938152463682010-07-11T19:34:25.416-05:002010-07-11T19:34:25.416-05:00Much of what FDR believed and promoted still is pa...Much of what FDR believed and promoted still is part of our national policy, including Social Security and the entire notion of a national health care program. In reading the new bio on FDR it is uncanny just how much the 12 years prior to his coming to office mirror those prior to the arrival of President Obama. FDR took innovative and progressive steps to right the destroyed economy. His understanding of govt allowed him to creatively reshape federal engagement with severe and unjust economic policy. Not sure which nations are closest to his ideals, possibly none. That said, his approach offers us options and a clear direction for rebuilding our national economy and position in the world.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-45062469818850997172010-07-11T15:01:21.544-05:002010-07-11T15:01:21.544-05:00Which nation has most closely followed Roosevelt&#...Which nation has most closely followed Roosevelt's ideals? Do you believe we should emulate that/those countries? What features of this/these societies do you most value?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-17719778016852704452010-07-09T21:34:27.688-05:002010-07-09T21:34:27.688-05:00Anon 10:18, my point was not to argue reality, but...Anon 10:18, my point was not to argue reality, but perception. My father and many other perceived Roosevelt to inspire them and give them hope. The same for Reagan. I believe that one thing deeply lacking in the current administration is the ability to really inspire people to hope. My observation was of one many who has been dead since 1997, but I do believe he was representative of many, many others.rcorumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02276694547675544067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-12959502180600142892010-07-08T22:18:27.315-05:002010-07-08T22:18:27.315-05:00World War II saved us from the depression and not ...World War II saved us from the depression and not all of the alphabet programs of FDR.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-35750050991635187812010-07-08T17:32:01.486-05:002010-07-08T17:32:01.486-05:00My father was born 100 years ago and lived through...My father was born 100 years ago and lived through the Great Depression and fought in WWII. He loved Roosevelt and gave him full credit for saving the country from the Depression and our enemies during the war. He also loved Reagan with a passion. He was a Reagan democrat. I think that for him both men held for him a positive view of the country. They inspired people to believe that things could be better. I love to read biographies and books about presidents. I plan to put it on my list.rcorumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02276694547675544067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-64575022818959301342010-07-08T11:12:51.960-05:002010-07-08T11:12:51.960-05:00Much of what Roosevelt says in this speech resonat...Much of what Roosevelt says in this speech resonates positively for me. But some of it makes me uneasy.<br /><br />"...national wealth can be translated into a spreading volume of human comforts hitherto unknown, and the lowest standard of living can be raised far above the level of mere subsistence. ... The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." <br /><br />Some noble sentiments. Some worthwhile aspirations. But the speech also starts to sound like a socialist utopian dream. There will always be tension between freedom and equality. Freedom will always include the freedom to fail, which means there can never be anything like actual equality. As usual, the devil's in the details. What is "too little"?<br />What "human comforts" should we provide everyone regardless of effort?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com