Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

That was stupid of the HUAC (that included a young and dumber Robert F. Kennedy). Or, the part of their witchhunt that targeted US socialists of the 1930s -- because the latter (pre- New Deal) were rationally reacting in protest (as the original communists in Russia in 1917) to the then rightwing extremes of, respectively, pre- Social Security robberbaron US capitalism and tsarist Russia's people starving, oppressing and killing. Both extremes are to be avoided.

(cont.)
But after WW2 when the Soviet Union ceased being our ally, it is historic fact (documented post-1989) that post-WW2spys Russia planted in the US and its gov't did steal our secret for making the atomic bomb. And now -- post-1989 Soviet reformation, some rogue Russian scientists having sold such secrets to nations that would aim the bomb at us -- we must live w/ that primal fear.

Very nice, balanced thought. One slight, almost insignificant point. The CIA stated that they had an American citizen in their view; a man who trailed across Europe into North Africa. He sold the atomic weapons secrets for hard cash ($4million only!). This was just after 2001, when everyone was looking elsewhere. As someone said once; "the cat's out of the bag". Let's hope it hides in the woods and never comes out.

Indeed, communism is the leftwing opposite of rightwing fascism. But most Western capitalistic nations have wisely adopted some socialistic measures -- to keep capitalism's incentives and economic freedoms, yet to raise the economic floor for all. To avoid the feudalistic extremes of a few superwealthy v. the supermajority overly poor. As a humane and rationale compromise. E.g., modern Denmark, a capitalistic nation with socialized medicine, is (per recent PBS show) the happiest on earth.

So, Harold Arlen wrote this? Genius.

No Yip Harburg wrote it.

I just checked my Judy cds and Wikipedia -- E. Yip Harburg, as you said, wrote the lyrics, but Harold Arlen wrote the melody. Great combo!

Read the World Socialist Web Site.

@modifiedcontent

Not true, you're the brainwashed one and that term "strong man socialism" is quite revealing of your agenda. There's only one kind of socialism, it's the one who serves all the population. National socialism had nothing too do with the real socialism and the same goes for Soviet Union style communism. Stop watching Fox News and maybe you stop saying rubbish like "FDR made the depression worse". What's next ? Nixon never lied ? Dubya can speak English ? Obama will stop the war ?

@theH0UNDSofD00M, I'm Dutch, living in New York. I consider myself a liberal - a true liberal, pro-capitalist, pro-individual liberty, pro-democracy. Liberalism is NOT the same as socialism. I have a political science degree from the University of Amsterdam. I grew up in socialist circles. Who the hell are you that you think you can lecture me?