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."
-Excerpt from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s State of the Union. January 11, 1944.
And what’s REALLY AMAZING is that some Republicans ALSO believed in this!
From a Speech by Republican Senator Daniel J. Morrell of Pennsylvania, in 1866: In his first speech in Congress Mr. Morrell uttered the following plea for labor: “The American workingman must live in a house, not a hut; he must wear decent clothes and eat wholesome and nourishing food. He is an integral part of the municipality, the State, and the Nation; subject to no fetters of class or caste; neither pauper, nor peasant, nor serf, but a free American citizen.”“He has the ballot, and if it were possible it would be dangerous to degrade him. The country stands pledged to give him education, political power, and a higher form of life than foreign nations accord their laborers, and he must be sustained by higher rates of wages than those of Europe. Our industries operated by American citizens must be freed from foreign interference and organized into a distinct American system, which will exact some temporary sacrifices but result in general prosperity and true national independence. In maintaining diversified industries we utilize every talent, provide a field for every capacity, and bind together the whole people in mutual dependence and support, assuring the strength and security of our Republic.”
Oh, how times have changed…and not for the better, either!
Brian, trying to remember FDR ‘s “four freedoms” without looking them up. If I’m not mistaken they are: Freedom from what and freedom from fear. The other two: Freedom to (or not to) worship and freedom to speak (write). How did I do?
“It might make billionaires sad” really has become the Elder Wand of political discourse— it has absolute veto power over any policy or program, however rational and badly needed it may be.
Was Donald Trump actually a billionaire before taking bribes from other countries? Some actual, real, bona fide certified billionaires tend to doubt this. (Doesn’t prove ‘em right, of course………) Whatever, let’s make ALL dictators sad, no matter WHAT their bank accounts might be!
But what about the inalienable rights of billionaires to be able to trick the ignorant masses into scapegoating those with less wealth and privilege than themselves?
The difference is that now the government sees itself as having rights that are superior to the populous and that its rights include the right to keep from us information that it deems dangerous to it’s rights.
Good ideas on the whole, but sometimes it sounds like a politician making everybody feel good. A lot of little boys don’t want a “good” education, but we hope they get it anyway. Is a businessman facing a monopoly or just somebody who does it better? A farmer deserves a good living if he makes the farm profitable, or he should get another job.
Brian Carroll creator about 5 years ago
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."
-Excerpt from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s State of the Union. January 11, 1944.
Masterskrain Premium Member about 5 years ago
And what’s REALLY AMAZING is that some Republicans ALSO believed in this!
From a Speech by Republican Senator Daniel J. Morrell of Pennsylvania, in 1866: In his first speech in Congress Mr. Morrell uttered the following plea for labor: “The American workingman must live in a house, not a hut; he must wear decent clothes and eat wholesome and nourishing food. He is an integral part of the municipality, the State, and the Nation; subject to no fetters of class or caste; neither pauper, nor peasant, nor serf, but a free American citizen.”“He has the ballot, and if it were possible it would be dangerous to degrade him. The country stands pledged to give him education, political power, and a higher form of life than foreign nations accord their laborers, and he must be sustained by higher rates of wages than those of Europe. Our industries operated by American citizens must be freed from foreign interference and organized into a distinct American system, which will exact some temporary sacrifices but result in general prosperity and true national independence. In maintaining diversified industries we utilize every talent, provide a field for every capacity, and bind together the whole people in mutual dependence and support, assuring the strength and security of our Republic.”Oh, how times have changed…and not for the better, either!
Teto85 Premium Member about 5 years ago
This Second Bill of Rights is from 75 years ago. Just imagine how great life would be if it had come true.
Durak Premium Member about 5 years ago
I have a group of 8th graders working on a project to draft a new constitution. This is perfect for them, thank you Brian!
Monchoxyz about 5 years ago
Learn something new every day. Necessitous.
CandiJohnson about 5 years ago
Brian, trying to remember FDR ‘s “four freedoms” without looking them up. If I’m not mistaken they are: Freedom from what and freedom from fear. The other two: Freedom to (or not to) worship and freedom to speak (write). How did I do?
GaryCooper about 5 years ago
“It might make billionaires sad” really has become the Elder Wand of political discourse— it has absolute veto power over any policy or program, however rational and badly needed it may be.
Andylit Premium Member about 5 years ago
Thank goodness his dream failed. We would have run out of other people’s money decades ago.
fkonow about 5 years ago
It could happen here. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Godfreydaniel about 5 years ago
Was Donald Trump actually a billionaire before taking bribes from other countries? Some actual, real, bona fide certified billionaires tend to doubt this. (Doesn’t prove ‘em right, of course………) Whatever, let’s make ALL dictators sad, no matter WHAT their bank accounts might be!
Daeder about 5 years ago
But what about the inalienable rights of billionaires to be able to trick the ignorant masses into scapegoating those with less wealth and privilege than themselves?
asbrownpe about 5 years ago
The difference is that now the government sees itself as having rights that are superior to the populous and that its rights include the right to keep from us information that it deems dangerous to it’s rights.
GavinHamilton about 5 years ago
Good ideas on the whole, but sometimes it sounds like a politician making everybody feel good. A lot of little boys don’t want a “good” education, but we hope they get it anyway. Is a businessman facing a monopoly or just somebody who does it better? A farmer deserves a good living if he makes the farm profitable, or he should get another job.