An Illuminating Document

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/an-illuminating-document/

[iemitsu]

1. Interesting read.

This is why I remember the America of my youth as a kinder, gentler place to live.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Hard to believe

that a golden age existed, from roughly the immediate post-war era to St. Ronnie's coronation, when repugs generally accepted the New Deal programs without question. How times have changed. Now, they long for a return to the days when robber barons ran roughshod over the working class. I am convinced that some long for the return of debtor's prison and poor farms.

[riqster]

5. Yes, these people haven't read Dickens

Or if they have, took the wrong message.

[riqster]

3. A scribble on a mouth wipe is to blame

AKA "Supply-Side Economics". A most pervasive sort of snake oil it was, and lots of Reeps have been selling it.

[summerschild]

4. An Illuminating Document, AND more timely than meets the eye.

from the link above, excerpts from Eisenhower's 1956 GOP platform:

“We are proud of and shall continue our far-reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs—expansion of social security—broadened coverage in unemployment insurance —improved housing—and better health protection for all our people. We are determined that our government remain warmly responsive to the urgent social and economic problems of our people.”

“We hold that the major world issue today is whether Government shall be the servant or the master of men. We hold that the Bill of Rights is the sacred foundation of personal liberty. That men are created equal needs no affirmation, but they must have equality of opportunity and protection of their civil rights under the law.”

“Under the Republican Administration, as our country has prospered, so have its people. This is as it should be, for as President Eisenhower said: “Labor is the United States. The men and women, who with their minds, their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this country—they are America.”

Today we are watching the incredible assault of GOP henchmen on the social safety net, organized labor, the poor and the middle class of our nation. Compare today's rightwing ideology with the platform of Eisenhower. In large degree, those henchmen represent the interests of capitalism at its ugliest and we see (in real time) how far they are willing to go to accomplish their aims and regain power.

Interestingly, just a few hours ago I viewed a Thom Hartmann video which stated Eisenhower was the last Republican President elected in a fair/legitimate election. To support his claim, he pointed to the same issues above which were supported by a majority of the electorate at the time. (I provide the link in order to make his statement about Eisenhower readily available - not to provoke or evoke more debate over the proof of stolen elections, which was his main topic). The frequently heard lament about Reagan not being electable today pales in contrast to the electability of Eisenhower.

[Bill Drat]

6. Thats quite a read

But I dont get the significance

[riqster]

7. Compare the Republican Platform of that day

To those of both parties in the modern day.

[summerschild]

8. Right! Eisenhower would have made a better Democrat than some Democrats today!

And 1956 was indeed probably the last time the GOP platform actually sought to govern in accordance with the needs of the people and the future of the nation as priority. The message was palatable to both Republicans and Democrats at that time so Eisenhower won - even in a fair and honest election.

(By the way, looks like Mr. Drat has been making mischief---he was banned from posting just after he posted here. That's why I never responded to his comment.)

Glad to learn about your blog! I'll be checking it out!

[riqster]

9. Thanks for the kind words

Lots of Reeps have no idea of what their party has historically stood for.