Quote from slammajamma:
1) FDR presided over the executive branch during the two greatest crises Americans faced since the civil war: the Great Depression, and the rise of European Facism and WW2. The result, The United States as a global leader. Not too shabby.
Economic statistics fail to produce evidence that any of FDR's much ballyhooed New Deal socialistic programs eased the prolonged depression. As late as 1939 America was mired in depression. The war like most wars was the ultimate stimulus for growth. Which leads to the question: Was FDR's fascination with getting the U.S. involved in the war a means to boost the lagging peace time economy?
2) Yalta. Don't ever think that the Western Allies defeated Germany. They only helped. Russia beat the German armies. 90% of the land war in WW2 was waged between these 2 countries. How was it that Roosevelt had East Europe to toss to the pinkos anyway? He didn't.
Supposing FDR hadn't provided Russia with the materiel to battle the Germans, Russia would have faltered at the least and on whom do you think the onus would have fallen to engage Germany in a withering war of attrition? 20 million Russians died in WW2. 250,000 Americans died. I'd say FDR outfoxed Stalin there. And yes, I know, 20,000,000 dead was chump change for Stalin, but not for FDR.
Thats the point. It appears that the U.S. didn't fight Hitler with the help of Russia as much as we fought Hitler because of Russia. Hitler was keenly in tune with what the threat of Soviet Communism meant for the future of Europe. It's doubtful that Nazism would have been any worse than the Iron Curtain that engulfed East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Albania for the next half century.
3) I beleive that the Republicans have controlled congress and the white house for a majority of the last 35 years. If you have a problem with spending and big government, and failing social security, you know who to complain to.
Huh? The last time the GOP controlled both houses was from 1952-1954!!!! In fact since 1934 only FOUR YEARS have the Republicans had a majority in the U.S. House. Glad to see you're an astute political historian!
4) Is there not a better way today to hate government and taxation than to revisit FDR?
Learning American 20th Century political history is an inappropriate means to examine the present infrastructure of government? Hmm...hope you don't trade for a living.