FDR's Economic Bill of Rights

Our Economic Bill of Rights ..what's the hold up?

[Excerpt from President Roosevelt's January 11, 1944 message to the Congress of the United States on the State of the Union]

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. Necessitous men are not free men. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

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:

1. The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

2. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

3. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

4. 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;

5. The right of every family to a decent home;

6. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

7. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

8. 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.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home, there can not be lasting peace in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_B...

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[CelticAngloPresss]

A liar, warmonger, tyrant and usurper - Speaks.

[1walicki]

Did the wealthy elite just make a comment?

[ImScottFree]

Incredible Channel. A true reflection of your love as it pours out onto your tube cavas like a lucid dreamer.

Fantastic and mesmerizing. I can't wait to see more from your soul! :)

[1walicki]

Thanks for your awesome comment!!

[3star2nr]

FDR recognised the real issues.

Poverty, classism, and division based on Race are not the tenants of a free society.

The probelm with America is we have Conservatives trying to bring about Fascism, and liberals who are too afraid to stand up to them.

Then you have independents, who accept the social injustice, and accept people being poor with no future, as a fact of life.

[Heath Watts]

How about lowering hedge fund managers' average hourly pay from $900,000, yes, you read that correctly, to a more reasonable number. I agree that not everyone should earn $50 per hour, but no one should earn $900,000 per hour; which translates to $1.8 billion per year, if the manager worked 40 hours per week for 52 weeks. If I made $900 K per hour, I'd work for eight hours and could retire with about $4 million after taxes. You are underestimating the greed and power of the rich.

[MrFreeLibertarian]

Don't forget the right to a color TV, 2 cars, free education, an Ipod and Ipad; free internet connection, free computer, free cell phone, blah blah blah All paid for by "the rich." Now vote for me and I'll make it happen! Spoken like a true, third world, banana republic wannabe dictator. Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez would be proud of FDR, a man of the people.

[1walicki]

why

[jd007200 .]

Oh... shove it!!! with your obsession with total economic freedom. You have NO right to exploit others for profits... period!!!

[tweeber69]

Too bad he couldn't enact this.

[Ronny Franks]

Why blame president Obama at the end? When his administration was new the repugs stopped everything pelosi put forth in the house by killing it in the senate, the senate then was known as the place where legislation went to die. Then the repugs and tea baggers gained the house of reps, where their stated mission was to see that he failed. Well, they have done that and we have failed, in a sense. downgraded by the very crooks who got us here, the s@p, and obstructionism in the house.

[Licmycat]

My dad was in the Air Force. He was very upset as they already knew that Russia was gonna come and fight us for our land. Apparently they ain't the only ones.