Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

second bill of rights

October 2, 2009 By ray-m 2 Comments

FDR’s second bill of rights

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:

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 our citizens  

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: bill-of-rights, fdr, president

Comments

  1. christopher says

    October 3, 2009 at 11:33 am

    As much as I agree with you on the merits and would love to accomplish these goals legislatively, I hesitate to put them on the same level as the Bill of Rights.  The difference is the Bill of Rights is about preventing the government from doing things to you, whereas your list requires the government to provide certain things.  This could get awfully messy since it would require spending, which I wouldn’t want the courts to enforce.  I see this more as a party manifesto, if only we did that like in the UK.

    Log in to Reply
  2. kathy says

    October 5, 2009 at 11:15 am

    during the Marshall Plan. We can’t even get universal healthcare passed, and Europe has had it for 60+ years.  

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended Posts

  • Promises made, promises kept (2)
  • Dems reach deal on IRA (1)
  • Great economic news today (1)
  • IRA passes 51- 50! (1)
  • Real “Center” is Economically Nationalist/Culturally Moderate (1)

Recent User Posts

There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing

August 10, 2022 By terrymcginty Leave a Comment

Site issue: Unable to reply to comments

August 10, 2022 By SomervilleTom 1 Comment

Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia 3 Comments

Promises made, promises kept

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia Leave a Comment

Schedule F

August 7, 2022 By johntmay 4 Comments

Statement by President Biden on passage of the Inflation Reduction Act

August 7, 2022 By fredrichlariccia 1 Comment

Recent Comments

  • johntmay on Site issue: Unable to reply to commentsSeems to be okay now...
  • johntmay on Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?Well, that's sad. Sure, your argument is a slam dunk wit…
  • fredrichlariccia on Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?Sorry, I'm done. Time to move on. :)
  • johntmay on Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?A hip replacement in the USA runs about $40,000, $13,500…
  • SomervilleTom on Speaker Pelosi Leads On Democracy Yet AgainIn other words, sometimes the Speaker grandstands -- and…
  • SomervilleTom on Speaker Pelosi Leads On Democracy Yet AgainIt appears that you in fact have none of the answers. It…
  • Christopher on Speaker Pelosi Leads On Democracy Yet AgainSometimes the Speaker leads Congressional delegations -…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

orangeshirtman Said Abdikarim (Sa-id) @orangeshirtman ·
47m

It is an honor for me to donate to councilor Arroyo to be our next DA. As a public defender, a councilman, a Bostonian, he brings a fresh perspective with tons of community, professional & political experience. Please consider donating to his campaign. #bospoli #mapoli #boston

Reply on Twitter 1557585008218472448 Retweet on Twitter 1557585008218472448 Like on Twitter 1557585008218472448 2 Twitter 1557585008218472448
rachelmiselman Rachel Miselman @rachelmiselman ·
1h

I was also the first person to talk about sex trafficking on #MethadoneMile. However, some of the same people that are decrying the conditions there, again, could not vote for me, a Republican.

They voted for this. What, therefore, is the problem? Why are they upset? #mapoli

Edward Coyle @SirEdwardCoyle

These are the conditions at Mass & Cass in Pressley's #Boston. An open air drug market, sex abuse, violent assaults, illegal guns, and #addiction for blocks and blocks. And what is she concerned about? "Unlocking more authority" over YOU. Power & Control. Waking up yet? #bospoli https://twitter.com/RepPressley/status/1555629712856203264

Reply on Twitter 1557576180789821443 Retweet on Twitter 1557576180789821443 1 Like on Twitter 1557576180789821443 2 Twitter 1557576180789821443
rachelmiselman Rachel Miselman @rachelmiselman ·
2h

.@Donnieplmr is not the answer. He gets on the ballot and then does nothing. Absolutely nothing, perhaps even less than that. Ayanna is going to walk back in. Blame the current leadership of the @MassGOP. #mapoli #bospoli

@AnyoneButWu2025 @WutrainS

@Gabby2Angels @seroxbury @SirEdwardCoyle @DaRosaAtLarge @RawRicci415 @TuckerCarlson @TheKuhnerReport @RepPressley @SenWarren @EdMarkey Maybe @EdMarkey just cant find his sneakers and @SenWarren is still having a beer and well @AyannaPressley is just waiting on her security folks!!! This is what happens when we elect Fake people ….. We have a opportunity to send a message; Vote @Donnieplmr this year

Reply on Twitter 1557573947650199552 Retweet on Twitter 1557573947650199552 Like on Twitter 1557573947650199552 Twitter 1557573947650199552
hashtagroberto Roberto A. Jiménez Rivera @hashtagroberto ·
2h

This entire thread is what I feared and why I was the only member of the Chelsea School Committee who voted to keep our mask mandate.

The right thing to do is often not the easiest thing to do. That's why I'm running for State Rep: so we can fight to do the right thing. #mapoli

Dr Ellie Murray, ScD @EpiEllie

Bottom line:

Eastern Massachusetts school districts which removed mask requirements in March 2022 saw a *dramatic increase* in COVID cases compared to if those districts had retained mask requirements.

And this was *despite* all other mitigation efforts those districts did.

Reply on Twitter 1557573656162738176 Retweet on Twitter 1557573656162738176 Like on Twitter 1557573656162738176 Twitter 1557573656162738176
teapartyusa1 Chris Lynch @teapartyusa1 ·
2h

FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Donald Trump. Apparently Trump refused to return all of the classified documents he improperly took when he left office. #MaPoli #NHPolitics

Reply on Twitter 1557571694084112384 Retweet on Twitter 1557571694084112384 Like on Twitter 1557571694084112384 Twitter 1557571694084112384
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
2h

Legislature expands mental health services | Regional News | http://newburyportnews.com https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2022/08/10/legislature-expands-mental-health-services-regional-news-newburyportnews-com/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1557571644637425664 Retweet on Twitter 1557571644637425664 Like on Twitter 1557571644637425664 Twitter 1557571644637425664
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2022 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.