This could have been written today.
"Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home—but not for housing. They are strong for labor—but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage—the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all—but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine—for people who can afford them ... They think American standard of living is a fine thing—so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it."
— Harry S. Truman, October 13, 1948, St. Paul, Minnesota, Radio Broadcast
I think our Democratic presidential candidates should memorize this. And recite it, often and with enthusiasm, because it’s all true.
You know, it’s depressing. That was in 1948. And We the People have NOT PROGRESSED. Not in all that time.
In fact we’ve gone backwards. My mom left a packet of letters, one of which was written Election Eve, 1948.
She was voting for the Socialist. That’s right. We had viable Socialist candidates in the 1940’s, even into the 1950’s, despite McCarthyism, despite the fervor of the Better Dead Than Red debate.
I grew up hearing about Socialist ideals, the difference between various types of Marxism; evolutionary vs revolutionary politics. Our version of saying grace involved an exhortation to eat our vegetables on behalf of the starving children in China. To this day I can’t eat without thinking of people who are hungry.
As a country we have actually gone BACKWARDS. Under Trump, in fact, we have become outright vicious.
The fact is the right wing has enjoyed a tremendous propaganda advantage; plus, this country was founded on a philosophy that acquiring wealth is good no matter the cost, including the exploitation of slave labor; the theft of land and resources and the genocide of entire tribes.
It’s made us rich and powerful as a country. But we’ve reached a point where we’re now cannibalizing ourselves and have contributed to the death of our planet.
So maybe now we can change and grow. I hope.