Those Who Remember History Are Doomed To Debate It
June 25, 2009
Poet and philosopher George Santayana is widely credited with having first coined the phrase, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” To this I’d like us to add, “Those that do remember history are doomed to debate it.”
Debating history is what we see happening now as the U.S. navigates its way through our current economic crisis—greatest of its kind since The Great Depression, we’re constantly reminded. The Obama administration’s efforts to revive the economy with a large economic stimulus bill and bring further regulation to the finance industry have engendered a plethora of tedious comparisons to President Franklin Roosevelt, and they have fostered a historical debate that revolves around either criticizing or supporting the government’s current efforts.
With respect to the way FDR guided America out of the Great Depression, two opposing schools of thought are emerging. The first—critical of the way that the current administration is handling the crisis—contends that the Franklin Roosevelt administration simply prolonged the Great Depression with its spendthrift ways; the second, made up of people who believe that President Barack Obama is on the right track, says that the Depression lasted as long as it did because FDR did not spend enough and pulled back on his New Deal plans in the face of concern over profligate spending during initial signs of a turnaround.
There are enough nonpartisan, independently-minded folks on both sides of the argument here. Do we want to suffer the consequences of being too cautious to and potentially wait in vain for the economy to recover? Or, do we want to spend money we don’t have and potentially saddle our grandchildren with massive debt and a growing healthcare bureaucracy?
What has been lost in much of this debate is the fact that there are some glaring differences between the country that FDR presided over and America today.
FDR faced a panicked run on the banks and unemployment more than twice what exists today. Obama is trying to wind down a war in Iraq, bail out the automobile industry and overhaul our health care system at the same time he is trying to revive the economy.
Roosevelt’s solutions, rightly or wrongly, were made to fit his time. To hold Presidents Obama and Franklin Roosevelt in such close comparison to one another is to be unfair to both. So I urge both sides to let FDR rest in peace.
History at least serves one constant that everyone seems to agree with: That it was World War II that finally brought the U.S. out of the Great Depression. With that perspective maybe we can agree that Obama is no FDR, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
24 Comments
a lot about History and the debate going about it for many years.I hope that the job bill gets pass so that new jobs can be created soon.Scrap Metal Merchants
Posted by: mivpl s | January 30, 2012 12:11 PM
the article and I have to say good. I agree with what you are saying and I will have to look further into this. Web Design
Posted by: mivpl s | January 27, 2012 11:05 AM
a historical debate that revolves around either criticizing or supporting the government's current efforts.parking stops
Posted by: mivpl s | January 21, 2012 7:29 AM
they have fostered a historical debate that revolves around either criticizing or supporting the government's current efforts. reusable shopping bags
Posted by: mivpl s | January 19, 2012 1:12 PM
pulled back on his New Deal plans in the face of concern over profligate spending during initial signs of a turnaround. furniture los angeles
Posted by: mivpl s | January 19, 2012 4:53 AM
I have any word to appreciate this blog Really I,m impressed from this blog.the person who create this post it was a great ppl..thanks for shared this with us. silver prices 2011
Posted by: ewan l | January 13, 2012 5:16 AM
This is very important site. It is very useful for me. Fantastic article! I thoroughly enjoyed your content ...very effectively written. current silver prices 2011
Posted by: ewan l | January 12, 2012 3:20 AM
Just got done reading the article and I have to say good. I agree with what you are saying and I will have to look further into this. price of silver today
Posted by: ewan l | January 10, 2012 4:47 AM
The Economic crisis in US is repeating school grants for women itself just like some kind of history is repeating. This little article explains a lot about History and the debate going about it for many years.I hope that the job bill gets pass so that new jobs can be created soon
Posted by: school grants f | January 8, 2012 10:34 PM
The Economic crisis in US is school grants for women repeating itself just like some kind of history is repeating. This little article explains a lot about History and the debate going about it for many years.I hope that the job bill gets pass so that new jobs can be created soon.
Posted by: school grants f | January 8, 2012 10:33 PM
efforts of bringing America out of the financial crisis did came into a lot of trouble and the debate over it was substantial. It was a good debate, though and it is rightly said by George Santayana that "Those who cannot remember the past are phenibut effects clarinet repair parts
buy geranamine
Posted by: hussain g | December 12, 2011 12:29 PM
Yes,I agree with this that "History is a good way to determine the progress and accomplishments" Trade agreements
Posted by: john a | November 29, 2011 1:51 AM
I am not sure if i am on the same page as you on this. THere is so much more that needs to be done. I am not sure what to think about it at all. ponte vedra beach porcelain veneers
Posted by: john j | November 23, 2011 12:12 AM
I wonder when will the consumers will start having confidence in the economy. how to name a company
Posted by: Opal M | November 19, 2011 1:17 AM
It is only through comparisons and debate that we can learn about the past and learn from it, taking care not to repeat the same mistakes a second time!! So I suppose that both the phrases "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," and the complimentary one here "those that do remember history are doomed to debate it" both makes sense! Its true that many of the companies are finding it very hard to go forward with there payroll solutions to there staff.In such times like these it is natural that we are making comparisons between Roosevelt and Obama since it only now that the nation is facing such a economic crises after The Great Depression!!
Posted by: karthik m | November 16, 2011 10:56 PM
History, good or bad will always teach us something. radio frequency welding
Posted by: S P | October 31, 2011 1:02 AM
History is a good way to determine the progress and accomplishments. candy gift baskets
Posted by: S P | October 31, 2011 1:00 AM
I hope that something good come out of the Occupation of Wall Street especially for those individuals who are looking for window tinting fort myers work or who lost their job.
Posted by: May S | October 13, 2011 7:41 PM
Yes... People are doomed to debate about the history that they know. The Economic crisis in US is repeating itself just like some kind of history is repeating. This little article explains a lot about History and the debate going about it for many years. mission desks
Posted by: Rosenda L | October 9, 2011 11:27 PM
I think that this is a good time for the very rich to contribute the economy so that new gift baskets jobs can be created in the future.
Posted by: May S | October 6, 2011 10:11 PM
New job creations is what our economy need to help it grow and get it out of the slump. ipad case
Posted by: Alf C | September 23, 2011 4:42 AM
New job creations is what our economy need to help it grow and get it out of the slump. ipad case
Posted by: Alf C | September 23, 2011 4:39 AM
I hope that the job bill gets pass so that new jobs can be created soon. buy gold coins
Posted by: S P | September 17, 2011 10:52 PM
Obama's efforts of bringing America out of the financial crisis did came into a lot of trouble and the debate over it was substantial. It was a good debate, though and it is rightly said by George Santayana that "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." air dryers
Posted by: benjamin m | September 10, 2011 12:36 AM
Add Your Comments...
Already Registered?
If you have already registered to Money Management Executive, please use the form below to login. When completed you will immeditely be directed to post a comment.
Not Registered?
You must be registered to post a comment. Click here to register.