We Democrats face a historic challenge this election season. I most strongly encourage us to hearken to the words of the most successful Democratic president in history. I include the text here (I think it is now in the public domain) for convenience — and at the same time equally strongly encourage us to LISTEN to his words. Even through the scratches, hiss, and noise of ancient technology the masterful voice that led and then saved Democracy is compelling:
For twelve years our Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to that Government but that Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! And my friends, powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent to mankind (sic).
For nearly four years now you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. And I can assure you that we will keep our sleeves rolled up.
We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. And we know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.
Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.
It is time all of us, including our nominee, to restore these words to our everyday vocabulary. Listen to the biblical cadences of the first paragraph! That was a paragraph authored by a person familiar with the bible (Old Testament AND New) for an audience familiar with the bible. It would do well for more Americans to know what a “golden calf” was, the misery that accompanied its worship, and — most of all — the emphatic rejection of that symbol by the deity that all Abrahamic traditions worship.
During Tuesday night’s debate, Anderson Cooper invoked this speech in one of his questions — he invited the candidates to offer political enemies they welcome. ALL five candidates missed or ignored the obvious reference.
HERE, again, is the right answer to Anderson Cooper:
The enemies we face today have been the same since the Great Depression. To quote the great Franklin Delano Roosevelt, they are “business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering”.
We have relearned, in the terrible aftermath of Citizens United, another truth from FDR: “Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob”.
These forces are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.
RIGHT NOW is time for our party and our candidates to restore these radical themes to our campaign and to our government. These are dangerous, rollicking, riotous ideas and words. These ideas brought a Democratic Congress into power that delivered FIFTY YEARS of continuous prosperity. These are themes that will bring demonstrators to the streets and — most importantly — DEMOCRATIC voters (of all political affiliations) to the voting booth.
It is time for we Democrats to proudly and loudly restore our heritage.
You nailed it!
FDR was the greatest leader of the 20th century who led us out of the Great Depression to victory over Fascism in World War II.
He was a giant whose progressive vision and leadership we should all follow to fortify us for the battles ahead. Even now his words speak truth to power and will drive enemies of the people to surrender and defeat.
We would all honor his memory best by uniting to carry on the fight he so nobly began nearly a century ago.
Fred Rich LaRiccia