Socialism Not New to U.S.
Dear editor:
In 1934 Congress passed the law creating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as an answer to the disastrous loss of deposits in banks across the country due to the Great Depression starting in 1929. Many opposed it and fought it because it smacked of “Socialism,” which they believed threatened our country. It has since saved depositors, mainly small depositors, billions of dollars of hard earned savings and retirements.
Then in the following year (1935) Congress passed the Social Security Act which offered a helping hand to those who needed financial help for their later years when they no longer could earn a living. Once again opponents fought this entitlement saying it smacked of “Socialism.” Why even its name (Social Security) suggested that.
That same year followed with Unemployment Insurance which would help the millions of Americans who had lost their jobs during the depression and for those who would need a safety net in the future when hard times appeared due to loss of a job. The “boo birds” appeared, fought it again on the basis of “Socialism,” claiming the government had no right to help needy citizens of our country. The “haves” could care less about the “have-nots.”
1936 saw the completion of Boulder Dam (now named Hoover Dam) which brought employment to thousands needed for the construction of this huge project, and created Lake Mead, flood control to the Colorado River, and a tremendous capacity for electrical power needed for the many states in the area. This, it was claimed by many, was the federal government competing with private enterprise and a furthering of “Socialism.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) came into being in 1939 and brought power and electricity to a section of our country that had never known any. In addition the price was low enough that it attracted farming and industry as the area had never seen. In addition over 38,000 barges today ply the waterways created by the system of dams which control the many rivers the TVA services. “Socialism” was the cry when this act was passed by Congress and signed by President Roosevelt.
Medicare was created in 1965 and brought healthcare to an aging population that could not afford treatment and care in their later years. The insurance companies and their compatriots in Congress fought this on the basis of free enterprise being threatened and creeping “Socialism” taking over our country.
And now it is happening all over again. It isn’t a question of is the president’s health plan good or bad, but rather is it “Socialism.” The panderers of hate, half-truths, bigotry and false statements are flooding the air waves with dangerous accusations causing an uncontrollable situation in America as shown in the town hall meetings across our country. The Rush Limbaughs, the Shawn Hannities, the Glenn Becks, the Sarah Palins and the Newt Gingriches are leading this dangerous charge with wrongful accusations of “Socialism,” “Communism,” and even “Naziism.” Truth is not their aim, but rather power and greed.
Health care “Socialism?” Who would like to give up the “Socialistic” acts listed above? With hundreds of banks failing this year and deposits secured by FDIC who wants to see this “Socialism” scrapped? Who would want to throw millions of Americans out onto the streets if they lost “Socialistic” Social Security? With almost ten million citizens out of work should we do away with Unemployment Insurance that smacks of “Socialism?”
Should we tear down Hoover Dam and close the TVA system? How about doing away with Medicare because it competes “Socialistically” with insurance companies? The answer is, of course not.
The problem is finding a solution to the need of millions of Americans who have no health coverage, not the need to create fear with accusations that aren’t true and causing millions grief. Stop the hatred and find a solution. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was right when he so long ago said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It is time for all of our Congressmen and Senators to stop worrying about reelection and pandering to their base and the merchants of doom on talk radio from spreading distortions and lies. It’s time to worry about America no matter what the system of governance it follows. And it’s time for the average American to learn, by reading what is really in the proposed legislation, not by the rumors and lies it hears and reads about on the internet.
In 1934 Congress passed the law creating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as an answer to the disastrous loss of deposits in banks across the country due to the Great Depression starting in 1929. Many opposed it and fought it because it smacked of “Socialism,” which they believed threatened our country. It has since saved depositors, mainly small depositors, billions of dollars of hard earned savings and retirements.
Then in the following year (1935) Congress passed the Social Security Act which offered a helping hand to those who needed financial help for their later years when they no longer could earn a living. Once again opponents fought this entitlement saying it smacked of “Socialism.” Why even its name (Social Security) suggested that.
That same year followed with Unemployment Insurance which would help the millions of Americans who had lost their jobs during the depression and for those who would need a safety net in the future when hard times appeared due to loss of a job. The “boo birds” appeared, fought it again on the basis of “Socialism,” claiming the government had no right to help needy citizens of our country. The “haves” could care less about the “have-nots.”
1936 saw the completion of Boulder Dam (now named Hoover Dam) which brought employment to thousands needed for the construction of this huge project, and created Lake Mead, flood control to the Colorado River, and a tremendous capacity for electrical power needed for the many states in the area. This, it was claimed by many, was the federal government competing with private enterprise and a furthering of “Socialism.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) came into being in 1939 and brought power and electricity to a section of our country that had never known any. In addition the price was low enough that it attracted farming and industry as the area had never seen. In addition over 38,000 barges today ply the waterways created by the system of dams which control the many rivers the TVA services. “Socialism” was the cry when this act was passed by Congress and signed by President Roosevelt.
Medicare was created in 1965 and brought healthcare to an aging population that could not afford treatment and care in their later years. The insurance companies and their compatriots in Congress fought this on the basis of free enterprise being threatened and creeping “Socialism” taking over our country.
And now it is happening all over again. It isn’t a question of is the president’s health plan good or bad, but rather is it “Socialism.” The panderers of hate, half-truths, bigotry and false statements are flooding the air waves with dangerous accusations causing an uncontrollable situation in America as shown in the town hall meetings across our country. The Rush Limbaughs, the Shawn Hannities, the Glenn Becks, the Sarah Palins and the Newt Gingriches are leading this dangerous charge with wrongful accusations of “Socialism,” “Communism,” and even “Naziism.” Truth is not their aim, but rather power and greed.
Health care “Socialism?” Who would like to give up the “Socialistic” acts listed above? With hundreds of banks failing this year and deposits secured by FDIC who wants to see this “Socialism” scrapped? Who would want to throw millions of Americans out onto the streets if they lost “Socialistic” Social Security? With almost ten million citizens out of work should we do away with Unemployment Insurance that smacks of “Socialism?”
Should we tear down Hoover Dam and close the TVA system? How about doing away with Medicare because it competes “Socialistically” with insurance companies? The answer is, of course not.
The problem is finding a solution to the need of millions of Americans who have no health coverage, not the need to create fear with accusations that aren’t true and causing millions grief. Stop the hatred and find a solution. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was right when he so long ago said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It is time for all of our Congressmen and Senators to stop worrying about reelection and pandering to their base and the merchants of doom on talk radio from spreading distortions and lies. It’s time to worry about America no matter what the system of governance it follows. And it’s time for the average American to learn, by reading what is really in the proposed legislation, not by the rumors and lies it hears and reads about on the internet.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 11:38 AM
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