berg80
Diamond Member
- Oct 28, 2017
- 17,767
- 14,908
Radio Address From Albany, New York: "The 'Forgotten Man' Speech"
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/doc...from-albany-new-york-the-forgotten-man-speech
As I do not consider myself to be forgotten I suppose I can't answer the question on a personal level. All I can do is examine Dem's efforts to help people on the middle and lower parts of the economic ladder. BTW, the speech is worth reading.
First, let's not pretend Dems have a perfect record in this regard. But on the whole it's pretty solid in my judgement.
Richard Nixon was actually the first prez to advocate for a national health insurance for those who were not covered under their employers plans. Clearly, those were the days before the party turned hard to the right.
The Nixon Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
The Nixon Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
But it was Dems who made the concept a reality. Prioritizing medical care as a right, not a privilege. Repubs, they fought it tooth and nail.
Dems were in favor of putting up obstacles to offshore jobs. Repubs, they fought it tooth and nail.
Republicans block Obama's measure to curb job outsourcing
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...outsourcing/articleshow/15051120.cms?from=mdr
Senate Republicans block bill to end tax breaks for outsourcing
https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-act...block-bill-to-end-tax-breaks-for-outsourcing/
Dems have traditionally supported unions, Repubs, not so much. Dems have supported a higher minimum wage. Repubs, nope.
Obama created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help average people from being taken advantage of by companies like predatory lenders. Repubs tried to have the bureau shut down.
These are the examples that immediately came to mind. I'm sure there are others. Even, possibly, some for which Dems were on the wrong side. But taken in their entirety there is a compelling case to be made that Dems have historically been on the side of the "forgotten man."
Yet there seems to be widespread sentiment that Dems have failed to do so lately. I don't agree, but again, I can't speak from personal experience. One thing I can say is other than giving lip service to helping those less fortunate have the Repubs actually done anything to help them beyond passing a tax cut that largely benefitted the rich while causing the deficit to balloon?
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/doc...from-albany-new-york-the-forgotten-man-speech
As I do not consider myself to be forgotten I suppose I can't answer the question on a personal level. All I can do is examine Dem's efforts to help people on the middle and lower parts of the economic ladder. BTW, the speech is worth reading.
First, let's not pretend Dems have a perfect record in this regard. But on the whole it's pretty solid in my judgement.
Richard Nixon was actually the first prez to advocate for a national health insurance for those who were not covered under their employers plans. Clearly, those were the days before the party turned hard to the right.
The Nixon Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
The Nixon Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
But it was Dems who made the concept a reality. Prioritizing medical care as a right, not a privilege. Repubs, they fought it tooth and nail.
Dems were in favor of putting up obstacles to offshore jobs. Repubs, they fought it tooth and nail.
Republicans block Obama's measure to curb job outsourcing
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...outsourcing/articleshow/15051120.cms?from=mdr
Senate Republicans block bill to end tax breaks for outsourcing
https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-act...block-bill-to-end-tax-breaks-for-outsourcing/
Dems have traditionally supported unions, Repubs, not so much. Dems have supported a higher minimum wage. Repubs, nope.
Obama created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help average people from being taken advantage of by companies like predatory lenders. Repubs tried to have the bureau shut down.
These are the examples that immediately came to mind. I'm sure there are others. Even, possibly, some for which Dems were on the wrong side. But taken in their entirety there is a compelling case to be made that Dems have historically been on the side of the "forgotten man."
Yet there seems to be widespread sentiment that Dems have failed to do so lately. I don't agree, but again, I can't speak from personal experience. One thing I can say is other than giving lip service to helping those less fortunate have the Repubs actually done anything to help them beyond passing a tax cut that largely benefitted the rich while causing the deficit to balloon?