The Way Things Were, And What They Have Become

This article compares our response to the Great Depression to our current response. Government took actions during the Great Depression to improve economic security for families. Today government has been pushed into improving the relationship between government spending and tax receipts. The Great Recession, which, along with GOP sponsored tax cuts, reduced tax receipts and increased government transfer payments. The resulting increase in the federal budget deficit became the problem that needed to be fixed. The concern for improving the economic security of those affected by recession has been shifted to the background. It has been trumped by an exaggerated concern for fiscal responsibility, and the fear of future inflation and future tax increases. Government is portrayed as the enemy of the people, and fear of the future has replaced the hope for a better future.

Shifts of this magnitude in public attitude do not occur by chance. The reforms spurred by the Great Depression were never popular with a powerful minority of Americans. The "Great Recession" provided the opportunity to attack government and the social programs that were introduced in the 1930's. We have been told that the richest country in the history of the world can no longer provide economic security for its people. It is more important to provide higher after tax income to those who have no need for government help during economic crises. Like John Galt, they will refuse to work hard, and provide jobs, if they are forced by government to help fund the community that gave them the opportunity to be successful. They no longer identify themselves with any community. They have the liberty to move their activities to more receptive locations with lower taxes, and less intrusive governments. This expands their opportunity to win their race to the top, as others fight against the opportunity to escape the race to the bottom. This is the best of all possible worlds. It is a world that maximizes individual liberty and opportunity at the expense of community and a concern for others.