ran 3.5 miles
On this day in history, President Harry Truman gave his “Fair Deal” speech in the form of his State of the Union address. The year was 1949 and Truman declared that every American deserves a fair deal from their government.
Sound like a familiar idea here in 2012? I agree every American, every legal American, deserves a fair deal, in which they have every opportunity any other individual has, but that “fair deal” or opportunity has nothing to do with the federal government granting it.
President Harry Truman laid out a plan for domestic policy reforms including nationalized health insurance, public housing, civil rights legislation, federal aid to education, increased minimum wage, government assistance to farmers, extension of Social Security, and immediate anti-discrimination policies regarding employment.
I’m not suggesting these are bad ideas but the ruthless haste most presidents use in implementing their ideas far too often leaves a wake of unexpected disaster elsewhere. Barack Obama’s use of stimulus packages and introducing his health care bill in the first half of his term amidst a full blown recession are two examples of cramming futility down the throat of logic. Many would argue things would be worse had he not invested so many monopoly money tax dollars into so many things that have unraveled as complete failures; I would argue that if he had invested in resources and technology, such as drilling for oil, that we as a nation already have a firm grasp on then his stimulus package could have been a success rather than a monumental failure.
In 1949, much like in 2012, politics were shifting to the right and anti-communist sentiment was increasingly slowing down Truman’s agenda, just as Barack Obama’s agenda is becoming more and more difficult to fulfill. The “Fair Deal” was being interpreted more and more as socialism by Americans.
In Truman’s second term minimum wage was almost doubled, he succeeded with his “Housing Act”, which provided 800,000 new houses for the poor, and Congress approved his extension of Social Security benefits. As far as nationalized health care was concerned, Congress obviously rejected the idea.
In 1950, the Korean War and the Cold War were too big of distractions for Truman to pursue his more important domestic interests any longer.
What was the theme of that speech Obama gave last month in Osawatomie, Kansas? “Fair Deal”, was it? No, it was the “Fair Shot” speech.
576.3 miles to go.
Here is what happened one year ago on Day129.
On this day in history, President Harry Truman gave his “Fair Deal” speech in the form of his State of the Union address. The year was 1949 and Truman declared that every American deserves a fair deal from their government.
Sound like a familiar idea here in 2012? I agree every American, every legal American, deserves a fair deal, in which they have every opportunity any other individual has, but that “fair deal” or opportunity has nothing to do with the federal government granting it.
President Harry Truman laid out a plan for domestic policy reforms including nationalized health insurance, public housing, civil rights legislation, federal aid to education, increased minimum wage, government assistance to farmers, extension of Social Security, and immediate anti-discrimination policies regarding employment.
I’m not suggesting these are bad ideas but the ruthless haste most presidents use in implementing their ideas far too often leaves a wake of unexpected disaster elsewhere. Barack Obama’s use of stimulus packages and introducing his health care bill in the first half of his term amidst a full blown recession are two examples of cramming futility down the throat of logic. Many would argue things would be worse had he not invested so many monopoly money tax dollars into so many things that have unraveled as complete failures; I would argue that if he had invested in resources and technology, such as drilling for oil, that we as a nation already have a firm grasp on then his stimulus package could have been a success rather than a monumental failure.
In 1949, much like in 2012, politics were shifting to the right and anti-communist sentiment was increasingly slowing down Truman’s agenda, just as Barack Obama’s agenda is becoming more and more difficult to fulfill. The “Fair Deal” was being interpreted more and more as socialism by Americans.
In Truman’s second term minimum wage was almost doubled, he succeeded with his “Housing Act”, which provided 800,000 new houses for the poor, and Congress approved his extension of Social Security benefits. As far as nationalized health care was concerned, Congress obviously rejected the idea.
In 1950, the Korean War and the Cold War were too big of distractions for Truman to pursue his more important domestic interests any longer.
What was the theme of that speech Obama gave last month in Osawatomie, Kansas? “Fair Deal”, was it? No, it was the “Fair Shot” speech.
576.3 miles to go.
Here is what happened one year ago on Day129.
