Are the ideas of FDR now irrelevant to today's Democratic Party?

[kentuck]

Was that another time and the ideas obsolete to the problems of today?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwUL9tJmypI

[hobbit709]

1. They seem to be to the leadership.

[white_wolf]

2. Pretty much.

The best we can hope for in candidates anymore are "pragmatic centrists."

[Octafish]

3. FDR had no use for trickle down.

His policies built good things from the bottom up.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Still relevant. But the leadership is oblivious. nt

[OHdem10]

5. It appears too many Democrats drank the Reagan Kool Aid.

It has been the Goal of the Republican Party Conservative
Movement to get rid of any vestiges of the New Deal, and
Johnson's war on Poverty.

I must assume since the Democrats on the Hill are mute
on the subject, they believe more Reagan than FDR.

This will be their demise and ruin the country, but
who cares any more.

[leftstreet]

6. FDR's policies had nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans

They were influenced by an organized, powerful and growing Left

[Amonester]

8. Consequently, the oligarchs managed to '$omehow' render the growing left...

powerless

They know how to .... uh... fight.... and.... (gulp).... WIN

The growing left? Not so much. (Sadly, not 'enough' dough.)

[white_wolf]

9. That is true.

The rise of socialist/communist movements in America led to the New Deal. It was an attempt to stop a revolution.

[OHdem10]

14. If that Left was so powerful, how is it the Right is in absolute control

[white_wolf]

16. That Left was weakened greatly during the Cold War era.

The far Left, socialists and communists which often agitated for reforms and even revolution is what prompted the New Deal. The Cold War ear propaganda and McCarthyism pretty much destroyed the the far left. Governments will always try and compromise to prevent what they see as a greater evil from occuring, so if the the socialist are out there in force talking about revolution and worker control of factories then the government will give into some lesser worker demands to stop the socialist movements.

[MineralMan]

7. Not at all. I think we should intern all the Muslims.

FDR would approve. I guess you didn't mean all of FDR's ideas, maybe... :sarcasm:

[Armstead]

23. You knew what th OP meant - deflecting is not useful

Yes FDR did some unsavory things, including giving support to racism.

But he was a product of his times.

I would say, however, that the ideas he took the lead on concerning the role of government in countering the wealthy and powerful, and providing a common safety net and belief in collective public action are still relevant.

[xchrom]

10. In the leadership - yes. Nt

[msongs]

11. "I welcome their hatred" has turned in to appease republicans no matter what the cost nt

[RufusTFirefly]

12. If you support FDR's ideas, you are "hard left"

Welcome to dystopia!

[white_wolf]

13. Yeah its crazy

When I think hard left, I think of Marxists-Leninist. Not FDR.

[madrchsod]

22. hell if you supported ike you`d be a commie

[bobbolink]

15. "progressives" have decided that poor people are expendable, and no longer need be considered "the

base".

It's just one more tossed away voting block.

[LiberalEsto]

17. Irrelevant to Corporatists

Relevant to Real Democrats

[RMBEBBP]

18. Good question

FDR non perfectus erat, quin, videtur interdum eum curasse nimium pro gratia blanditiaque aliorum contra se.
FDR was not perfect by any means, in fact, it seems that he was much too concerned at times about pleasing and charming others for his own good.

sine dubio ille vitia habebat, at virtutes eius vidueruntur, usque ad praesente, etiam pessima vitia eius superare --significo infidelitatem suam cui nos certe debemus dare veniam.
No doubt, He had his flaws but his good qualities seemed, and still do, to outshine even his most abhorrent qualities (mainly his infidelity, which should be undoubtedly be forgiven).

unus dux fortis fuit, et ille cum homine vulgari locutus est, cum maxime importans fuisset, et plurimum, homo vulgaris ei credidit.
He was a strong leader, and he made the strongest appeals to the 'little guy' when it most mattered, and most of all, the 'little guy' believed in him.

signum bonae auctoritates non semper in quaedam descriptione rerum gestarum:
A sign of good leadership is not always a long list of accomplishments:

interdum hoc est gratia cum qua unus fautor pro duce denique.
sometimes it's the feeling a supporter feels for his leader at the end of the day.

vere res gestae et gratia sunt res legatae, quodsi dux fautori non placeat, non est fautoris onerem portare et rogare si ipse non recte cernant res gestas ducis, magis quam est ducis adsecurare eius fautores satisfactos commodosque.
Of course, accomplishments and support go hand in hand, but if a supporter does not feel good about his leader, it's not up to the supporters to pick up the slack and ask whether they are misjudging the accomplishments on record, but rather it's up to the leader to make sure his supporters are satisfied and happy.

de hoc, FDR magus erat, atque cum illa magia ibi erant multae res gestae etiam, et ecce ratio propterquam nos omnes tam alte de illo parabolemus.
FDR was the master of this, and add to his mastery a long list of accomplishments, and this is why we talk so loftily about him.

Thanks for opportunity to discuss.

VALE

[fascisthunter]

19. yes.... and to many

on DU

[99th_Monkey]

20. Yes, but sadly Maine's new Gov. didn't get the memo

or maybe he did, and that's why he's using public funds to vandalize historic depictions of US labor movement.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/maine-governor-orders-mural-depicting-labor-history-removed-from-labor-department.php?ref=fpblg

[madrchsod]

21. to the leadership-yes

to the people who are directly effected by the corporate take over -no.

i`d throw in lbj into the mix...he`s the last great democratic politician and president.