Lessons from FDR

I am no economic expert, but I do understand the importance of knowing my history. And, right now is a time to pay close attention to the actions of one of this country's greatest presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt - FDR.

I wonder what the man (FDR) who made the following statement during his second fireside chat, explaining his "New Deal," would have to say about our current government bailouts of non-government companies.

"It is rather a partnership - a partnership between government and farming, a partnership between government and industry, and a partnership between government and transportation. Not a partnership in profits, because the profits will still go to the private citizen, but rather a partnership in planning, and a partnership to see that the plans are carried out."

And speaking of those famous fireside chats, here's how a common U.S. citizen thought of his president as a result of those famous radio-meetings. 

"I never saw him - 

But I knew him. Can you have forgotten

How, with his voice, he came into our house,

The President of these United States,

Calling us friends..."

-Carl Carmer, dated April 14, 1945 (from the book, The People And The President, Beacon Press, 2002)

Oh, to again feel such a connection.