Gleaning Facebook: FDR's Economic Bill of Rights

I'm with FDR!

Here's his complete list from his 1944 State of the UNion address:

"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."

Comments

Laurie Craw We can have all that. Or we can have the most billionaires and multi-millionaires in the world and the lowest taxes on capital gains and corporate profits. But not both.

Dan Ledford i think we should go back to these basics
Steven Savage That means access to.... not given by the government

Seiler Rankin Hmm - lets see where I'm at:

1. Just lost my job a couple days ago (as a graphic artist, this happens often).
2. Never achieved the wage I was promised for the last several years.
3. Have never been able to afford a home in California.
4. I have no health insurance.
5. I was let go in the middle of a bout of bronchitis.
6. I obtained a good education but will be paying off the loans for the rest of my life.

I have worked hard since age 13, raised two wonderful children, volunteered for community improvement, grown my own vegetables, and striven to improve this world through charity, kindness, and sacrifice. Think I lost this game.
Laurie Craw It IS a game and living by your own values is better than "winning" a "game." You're a good human being and a credit to the family.
Seiler Rankin Thanks, Laurie. I feel the same about you! Love from California.

Luis Schnitzer Da Silva FDR died before he was able to establish the society he envisioned. All these goals are achievable and definitely were achievable at the time, even without "forcing" anyone to provide housing or jobs etc as Jonathan Ingram fears. The right to an education and to health care are definitely achievable through the government... And these 2 rights would go a long way towards insuring that you'd get a good job and have access to housing etc. This is totally what a nation should strive for ... and a rich and capable nation like ours is more than capable to achieve this. It is a shame that we don't , and even more, that we don't strive for it. Instead we come up with "reasons" as to why we shouldn't .
Laurie Craw Perfectly stated. Thanks