Here are the scintillating thoughts of the two presidents who
ushered in and oversaw the Great Depression beginning with the stock market crash in 1929. Their views are indistinguishable from those
of Mitt Romney and most of today’s Congressional Republicans.
CALVIN COOLIDGE (President
1923-29)
“After all, the
chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly
concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the
world.”
“Civilization and profit go hand in hand.”
“Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the
strong.”
“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no
one independence quite so important, as living within your means”
“Patriotism… means looking out for yourself by looking
out for your country.”
“Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought
because they create wealth, but because they create character”
“When more and more people are thrown out of work,
unemployment results.”
HERBERT HOOVER (President 1929-33)
"The sole function of Government is
to bring about a condition of affairs favorable to the beneficial development
of private enterprise." [This would have come as a very big surprise
to the Founding Fathers]
"We must not be misled by the claim that the
source of all wisdom is in the government."
"The budget should be balanced not by more taxes,
but by reduction of follies." [Like Social Security, education and health care]
"We are now speeding down the road of wasteful
spending and debt, and unless we can escape we will be smashed in
inflation."
"The course of unbalanced budgets
is the road to ruin."
"Free speech does not live many
hours after free industry and free commerce die."
“Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the
national debt.”
In America today, we are nearer a final triumph over
poverty than is any other land.”
“We have not yet reached the goal but... we shall
soon, with the help of God, be in sight of the day when poverty shall be
banished from this nation.”
[The economy tanked
by 42% during Hoover’s Great Depression and at it’s peak unemployment was
24%. Poverty was unprecedented in
American history. Many people lived in "Hoovervilles"
which were groups of shacks. Divorce rate increased 175% and suicides increased
150%. For many Americans, daily life was a struggle for food and shelter.]
“Prosperity cannot be restored by raids upon the
public Treasury.”
“When the war closed
we were challenged with a peace-time choice between the American system of
rugged individualism and a European philosophy of diametrically opposed
doctrines - doctrines of paternalism and state socialism.”
“All men are equal before fish.”
WELCOME TO MITT ROMNEY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY!
