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My mom says FDR kept them from starving to death. Guess it all depends on where you were and what you were doing in 1932.
She was the 7-year-old daughter of sharecroppers who were dirt poor before the Depression.
And my grandfather lost literally every coin of his savings that was in a (not) safe-deposit box at a bank when FDR had gold coins confiscated, replaced with paper FRN's, which lost nearly 50 percent of their value in short order...yeah great president.
No one starved under Herbert Hoover before FDR got in, and the worst of the Depression happened under him. Private charities did an exceptional job meeting the challenges the Depression brought. FDR's fiscal policies actually prolonged the Depression.
For instance, a priest who had a popular radio show (who in fact came up with the social security idea) both had the FCC targeting him and FDR pressured the church to silence him.
I share your antipathy for FDR, but the social security idea has been around since Thomas Paine, at the very latest.
I share your antipathy for FDR, but the social security idea has been around since Thomas Paine, at the very latest.
In various versions I suppose, but the modern version (which FDR rejected before he decided to support it claiming it as his own idea) originated during the Depression era.
Ah, the first income tax was impose in 1861, now according to Wiki, FDR wasn't born until 1882 sooo.
You information is incomplete. The Revenue Act of 1861 was indeed the first income tax. The income tax was levied at 3% on all incomes higher than $800 a year. In 1862 Congress created a two-tiered rate structure, with taxable incomes up to $10,000 taxed at a 3% rate and higher incomes taxed at 5%. A standard deduction of $600 was enacted and a variety of deductions were permitted. The income tax was abolished in 1872.
After the ratification of the 16th Amendment Congress passed a new income tax law with rates beginning at 1% and rising to 7% for taxpayers with income in excess of $500,000. Less than 1% of the population paid income tax at the time.
After the stock market crash of 1929, and in the face of rising budget deficits which reached $2.7 billion in 1931, Congress followed the prevailing economic wisdom at the time and passed the Tax Act of 1932 which increased tax rates once again. This was followed by another tax increase in 1936 that further improved the government's finances while further weakening the economy. By 1936 the lowest tax rate had reached 4% and the top rate was up to 79%. No President, before or since, has increased personal income taxes more than FDR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ovcatto
As for Marijuana, the lord giveth and the lord taketh away. FDR ended prohibition so you get to at least get to drink a beer. Either way the idea for outlawing marijuana wasn't Roosevelts but former bootleg slayer Harry Anslinger who nearly put out of business by the end of prohibition lobbied for making use of marijuana a Federal crime. He argued, quite correctly, that all 48 states had some law restricting the use of marijuana and such prohibitions were apart of the 1928 International Opium Convention Treaty.
Avoid looking dumb, study history!
FDR did not end prohibition. Presidents play no role in the amendment ratification process. Prohibition ended when the state legislatures ratified the 21st Amendment in 1933.
Harry Anslinger was the first Commissioner of the Bureau of Narcotics under the Department of the Treasury, created in 1930, and appointed by President Hoover (three years before Prohibition ended).
In 1932 my mom and dad had been engaged for 2 years waiting for the Depression to end so they could get married. They both worked for Montgomery Ward in Kansas City. Mom said she and others would get called into the boss's office and told you are making $12 a week. We have to fire you. We can hire you back at $10 a week. They had no choice as they needed to work. Finally in 1934, mom told dad it was now or never. They got married in Feb that year. Dad said he married Mom for her money! She was making $2 more each week than he was. In that time frame, they were able to buy a house and have it paid for when they got married. Wedding presents were things like a dish towel, a large mixing bowl, pillow cases, drinking glasses. Mom said people gave from what they had. Montgomery Ward gave them a book case and a three leg decorative table. I still have the furniture and some of the other presents given to them so long ago.
If it wasn't for your posts about FDR, I wouldn't be thinking about my folks marriage at this moment. Thanks.
Oh, and my Mom never worked under SS. She quit her job when she got married.
OK Carry on--back to your debate!
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