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Post A Reply Login Name: Password: Message: HTML is enabled. UBB Code™ is enabled. [QUOTE]Originally posted by Daryus Aden: [QB] Posting this on DT's behalf: <hr> I just wanted to chime in (as Daryus pointed me to this thread) on a few issues. For those unfamiliar with American history, the depression was a crippling economic flux (the product of anarchist capitalist production) which struck America in 1929 (this world wide economic depression racked the western countries, except for the USSR, to the point where demagogic leaders were able to take power, notably in Germany) and brought the country to its knees. Although it was already a poor economy, the 1920s are reffered to as the "Roaring 20s" because of how the elite were living fast, thanks to land speculation and other quick fixes. The stock market crashed in October of '29, and Herbert Hoover decided to let it correct itself. Hoover, himself a "fascist" who was responsible for attacking the Bonus Marchers, and his Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon (who was well versed in destroying the working class) were ardent believers in the laissez-faire principles of economics. Hoover urged "patriotic sacrifice," at least for the poor, never bothering to ask the wealthy to sacrifice. Thus newspapers came to be called "Hoover Blackets" etc. Come the midterm elections the Democrats were swept into Congress, yet Hoover still resisted change. He did, however, initiate some trickle-down policies, helping banks and railroads. Come November 1932, the people (and the elite) were sick of the depression, so they elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt. However, during the time between the election and the inauguration, the state of affairs deteriorated so much that it could only be called a state of emergency. "I shall ask the Congress for the remaining instrument to meet the crisis - broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency as great as the power that would be given me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe." Franklin D. Roosevelt That is a quote from his innauguration address on the 4th of March. On the 9th FDR called a special session of Congress in which a four-day banking holidy was declared, and within 7 hours the Emergency Banking Relief Act was passed by Congress. By March 15th, banks controlling 9/10 of the nation's banking resources were once again open. The crisis, my friends, was over. Yet only for the banks. While the capitalist economy was now safe, the people had nothing. Thus, Roosevelt, a tool of the ruling elite, enacted certain legislations which were designed to keep the working people passive. This was known as the New Deal. Some elements of the New Deal (although it was neither new or a deal) included: The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA, passed 12/5/33) compensated farmers for voluntary cutbacks in production in an effort to restore farm prices to "parity" (granted, we could've distributed food for free to the people, but...) The National Recovery Administration (NRA, part of the NIRA passed on 16/6/33) was established for two rather controversial purposes. 1, stabilize business through a code of "fair" competitive practices, 2, to generate more purchasing power by providing jobs, defining labour standards, and raising wages. Committees in each major industry were created - comprised of management, labour, and government - to draw up codes of practice. These includes such communist ideas as the 40 hour work week, and a minimum weekly wage of $13 ($12 in the South where COL was cheaper) as well as an end to child labour. Although the NRA would last only until 1936, those last three ideas were thus engrained. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, passed 18/5/33) was created which was a public utility, essentially, that built dams and providing, among other things, cheap electric and jobs to people in the poorest region of the country. My favourite was the CCC, or the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was designed to give work to unemployed and unmarried young men agaed 18-25. They worked under military like conditions in green causes. That is about it. As you can see, none of them were at all leftist (the closest thing this country had to a leftist on the main political scene, Huey P. Long, was also FDR's biggest critic) but they were somewhat progressive. The country did not collapse, as was expected, and by the time the war began, America was ready for full scale production. There is your brief history on FDR and the reason for the state of emergency. As you can tell, if FDR is considered the most left president in American history, this country has a sorry history of a left. That is why I ask you folks not to refer to the democrats as left wing. As one professor mine (hailing originally from Germany) said, there is a true left, and an American left. The American version is a joke. Left is not Al Gore. Al Gore is a right wing politician. Leftwing is Ralph Nader and John LeClair. And also, I was hoping Omega could clarify for me that little thing known as Watergate. Simon rarely brings anything to a political discussion, but for once, he hit it on the head (by ripping off my Neil Young obsession, of course). Nixon resigned because he was about to be impeached for subverting the democratic process. If he didn't do it then, it ain't gonna happen now. I now return myself to a life of meditation on top of a hill. Perhaps Daryus will alert me next time I am needed. But as you all know, anytime my skills must be called upon, simply summon me and I will rise for the working man. Liam - Please don't let them in on me having a social life, I cannot let them find out! My opinions and facts will be discredited. No, that's not a girlfriend I'm shoving under the desk right now. Don't look there. [/QB][/QUOTE]

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