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New Deal or Raw Deal?: How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America
A sharply critical new look at Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency reveals government policies that hindered economic recovery from the Great Depression---and that are still hurting America today.
Audio CD, 0 pages
Published
June 18th 2009
by Tantor Media Inc
(first published 2008)
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Some historians consider FDR the greatest president. Others have him rated in the top three. They must be smoking dope. A 20% unemployment rate after 8 years as president makes you a great one?
FDR was smart though, however he spent like a drunken sailor. He would funnel money into sectors of large areas of large states to democratic cronies. These guys would dole out jobs in exchange for votes for themselves and FDR. He employed this tactic just enough in various states to ensure th...more
FDR was smart though, however he spent like a drunken sailor. He would funnel money into sectors of large areas of large states to democratic cronies. These guys would dole out jobs in exchange for votes for themselves and FDR. He employed this tactic just enough in various states to ensure th...more
A must read in view of today's call for a "new" New Deal. Bottom line is that virtually every action Roosevelt took to mitigate the Great Depression prolonged it. Furthermore, many of his actions were clearly intended to expand his political power. We are suffering for the effects even today.
It's important to remember that US unemployment reached 20% during the depression, and lasted until 1940, when war production began in earnest. Unemployment in other western countries...more
It's important to remember that US unemployment reached 20% during the depression, and lasted until 1940, when war production began in earnest. Unemployment in other western countries...more
As you might gather from the title, the author, Burton Folsom, proposes that the policies of the Roosevelt administration during the Great Depression did more harm than good to the economy.
This book is clearly politically charged, which makes truly objective reviews difficult. I've seen many reviews of political books which say almost nothing about the actual quality of the book, but rather use the book as a springboard to expound on the reviewer's own political opinions. I'll try to...more
This book is clearly politically charged, which makes truly objective reviews difficult. I've seen many reviews of political books which say almost nothing about the actual quality of the book, but rather use the book as a springboard to expound on the reviewer's own political opinions. I'll try to...more
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As a fan of limited government and lower taxes, I wanted a counterbalance to the traditional narrative of FDR and the New Deal. This book definitely provides it. Folsom goes through what he believes caused the depression, and how the various programs implemented by Roosevelt affect the way we view government (and politics). In all fairness, he also attacks Republican Hoover for massive government spending, and signing the Smoot-Hawley tariff, as reasons for a sinking economy. My grandfather'...more
Deep down inside I always knew that big government control over more and more aspects of our lives was not a good thing but never knew how to explain it. This book makes that explanation clear and understandable. It also gives great insight into the life of FDR and what influenced him to start moving the country in a far Left direction ... so different than what the founding fathers were inspired to create.
To my dear, sweet friend from the Provo days; one evening you and I got into a discussio...more
To my dear, sweet friend from the Provo days; one evening you and I got into a discussio...more
Actually found this to be enlightening, interesting and - despite what some critics said - well documented. I read it because of the similarities in the current economic and political climate.
It was disconcerting to see how so much economic clout put in the hands of the government can be used for political manipulation. And once that genie was out of the bottle, we've never been able to put it back - no matter which party was in "power".
It would seem that,...more
It was disconcerting to see how so much economic clout put in the hands of the government can be used for political manipulation. And once that genie was out of the bottle, we've never been able to put it back - no matter which party was in "power".
It would seem that,...more
During all previous serious economic contractions the American government always did the same thing. They cut expenses and/or cut taxes. As this tactic always succeeded in reversing the downturn in short order, Franklin Roosevelt, just for variety I suppose, decided to do just the opposite. The result: as most countries dug out of the depression, America stayed deeply mired. Burton Folsom’s New Deal or Raw Deal explores the immediate and long term effects of the New Deal and the reasons thi...more
A very different look at Roosevelt's New Deal. Breaking away from the More common progressive or liberal look at the New Deal, Folssom takes an economic conservative approach to looking at the New Deal. He challenges FDR's assumption of underconsumption as the problem with his economic decisions leading to New Deal programs. He claims the New Deal programs prolonged the depression and that a different approach of lowering taxes and tariffs to stimulate business would have provided better results...more
A fascinating book! I learned so much about FDR's administration that I never knew before. FDR is a presidential icon but there is much more to his presidency than the public personae. Find out how he used New Deal money to target particular election districts for votes with the strategy that "no one shoots Santa Claus." How he used the IRS to go after critics in the newspaper business and Congress to silence their opposition to his programs. How he went after the rich with a top incom...more
This was a very enlightening book about the FDR presidency and covers many things that you probably weren't taught in you history class in high school. Folsom makes a convincing argument that the New Deal did more to hurt America's economy and slow down economic recovery than help. The New Deal was more about politics and getting reelected than it was about helping the poor and unemployed and putting people back to work. Also, the extent to which FDR abused his power is appalling! After reading ...more
I had never closely examined FDR's presidency and was therefore of the camp (based on popular opinion) that he was probably one of our greatest presidents. All I can say is after reading this book, the wool has been removed from over my eyes.
Of course hindsight is 20/20, and they may very well have been doing their honest best to mitigate a disaster at the time, but it seems like most of FDR's policies and programs were really just vehicles to make him look good and grab more votes ...more
Of course hindsight is 20/20, and they may very well have been doing their honest best to mitigate a disaster at the time, but it seems like most of FDR's policies and programs were really just vehicles to make him look good and grab more votes ...more
This is a good book which gives a realistic political account of the motives behind FDR's New Deal. FDR was a typical politician. That probably will surprise some people; it didn't surprise me.
I think I need to read a good pro-FDR book. My biases are just being reinforced. I’ve looked, but the pro-FDR crowd seems incapable of writing about FDR without creating a tomb.
If I'm going to uncomfortably challenge my biases, I want something good, but short ;)
I think I need to read a good pro-FDR book. My biases are just being reinforced. I’ve looked, but the pro-FDR crowd seems incapable of writing about FDR without creating a tomb.
If I'm going to uncomfortably challenge my biases, I want something good, but short ;)
Completely obliterates the FDR myth, revealing him as a profligate scoundrel, using taxpayers' money to buy votes, support boondoggles, and redistribute the income of hard-working Americans - and with nothing to show for it except a longer and greater Great Depression. FDR was among America's worst Presidents: his legacy is that of government theft and dependence, and tragic losses of individual property and freedom.
An eye opening account of the FDR administration's attempt to "stimulate" the economy with tax increases, massive spending, market manipulation, protectionism, and overbearing regulation. Sound familiar? This book lays out many of the strategies and programs of FDR, then analyzes the outcomes. Not exactly the savior of the 1930's we learned about in grade school.
This book was pretty key critical. Very topical given today's likeness to the economic climate of the great depression era. Brian, a big fat liberal democrat, thought this book sucked because he is really into big government and government spending.
An eye-opening alternative to the heroic picture of FDR and his New Deal that's taught in our public schools.
One of Roosevelt's big programs was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Small business owners were jailed for not charging the high prices the government had arranged with giant corporations. And by the end, Roosevelt's own economic mastermind bluntly admitted that their plans had failed. There are many hard facts here to warn us against repeating these mist...more
One of Roosevelt's big programs was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Small business owners were jailed for not charging the high prices the government had arranged with giant corporations. And by the end, Roosevelt's own economic mastermind bluntly admitted that their plans had failed. There are many hard facts here to warn us against repeating these mist...more
This book certainly takes Roosevelt down a peg or two from what I learned in high school civics. I seems like a relatively believable account of politics and the great depression. The biggest revelation for me is grasping how Roosevelt's changes to the federal government were so revolutionary for the time - minimum wage, unions, subsidies to various industries, FDIC, etc. Since the federal government is so involved in our lives now, it is hard to imagine what it would be like for it not to be. T...more
The Myth of FDR still lives and history is repeating itself. We should all know the facts of how FDR's policies destroyed prosperity and undermined our Republic.
Another must-read like While Europe Slept How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within that draws parallels between the Great Depression and modern economic policies. It is highly critical of not only FDR, but his republican predecessor, Hoover.
New Deal or Raw Deal?: How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America by Burton W. Folsom, Jr. (2008)
Excellent book. This is definitely an eye opening treatise that sets the record straight as to what really went on in the 1930's under Roosevelt's "leadership." Roosevelt is finally held to a real objective standard and his "New Deal" is revealed for what it truly was - a raw deal for the entire nation, that continues to haunt us over 70 years later. This is an excellent evaluation of Roosevelt and the New Deal - full of many examples of poor conduct, greed, power grabbing an...more
I was interested in this book in light of the current administration's attempt to "stimulate" the country into economic revovery rather than allow the market to naturally correct itself. It is FDR's economic legacy that put into place the mechanisms that has allowed this to happen--- saddling our children with unfortunate debt.
I found the book to be a frank, eye-opening account of the harm that this charismatic but economically ignorant leader caused our Country a...more
misleading, inaccurate use of statistics and lack of detail in his citations.
They sure don't teach you this in school.A must read for anyone intrested in American history and the truth.
Really opened my eyes to the truth behind FDR.
Just getting ready to start this one.
More accurate look at FDR's impact.
This book was very informative. I have always known that FDR was a socialist and a bad man. This book gave me a lot of facts that back up my previous opinion. A must read for every freedom loving American.
This book could have been half as long. It had a lot of good points when all broken up, but didn't seem as cohesive as a whole. Also, I wish the book had focused more on the title thesis rather than attacking FDR personally. But on balance it was good and makes one realize that when too much power is centralized, the government has more tools to bully everyone else into its desires.
I really liked this book. It shows how FDR used the New Deal to stay in power as the President and then the long term effects of the different programs.
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