weneedrubio wrote:
Name one that hasn't.
This country has been built on "liberal" and what you would call " socialist" policies and programs for over 100 years at least"
Teddy Roosevelt ( September. 1901 to March 1909) Among his accomplishments, and contributions were:
The Square Deal was Roosevelt's domestic program formed upon three basic ideas: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection.
The Hepburn Act of 1906 strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission; prior to that, the commission had minimal resources to carry out its duties.
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the Meat Inspection Act, also of 1906
The creation of huge National Parks that prevented the private sector from developing on it and gave all Americans access to it.
Throughout much of the 20th Century, many other US presidents have also supported programs and promoted policies that are arguably socialist
Woodrow Wilson (March 1913 to March 1921) In his first term as President Wilson persuaded a Democratic Congress to pass major progressive reforms. In his first term, Wilson successfully pushed a legislative agenda that few presidents have equaled, and remained unmatched up until the New Deal of FDR. During his presidency he was responsible for:
The Federal Reserve Act, setting up the Federal Reserve System
The Federal Trade Commission Act, and The Clayton Anti Trust Act aimed at curbing unfair trade practices
The Federal Farm Loan Act to make credit available to rural farmers
Presiding over the passage of the 13th Amendment which made the income tax permanent
Signing the Keating Owen Act of 1916, which curtailed child labor but which the US Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in 1918.
Signed The Adamson Act, which imposed an 8-hour day for railroad workers.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (March 1933 to April 1945) definitely made the US more socialist than perhaps other president had. In 1933 ,Roosevelt enacted a series of economic programs through legislation and executive orders, known as the New Deal, to speed recovery after the great depression. The New Deal forged a coalition of labor unions, liberals religious, ethnic and racial minorities (Catholics, Jews and B****s), Southern w****s, poor people and those on relief. Components included:
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration provided $500 million for relief operations by states and cities, while the short-lived CWA (Civil Works
Administration ) gave localities money to operate make-work projects in 1933-34
The Social Security Act of 1935
The Works Progress Administration(WPA) relief program (which made the federal government by far the largest single employer in the nation),
The Wagner Act which promoted labor unions,
The Fair Labor Standards Act which set maximum hours and minimum wages for most categories of workers.
Established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which guarantees the safety of deposits in member banks, The FDIC also examines and supervises certain financial institutions for safety and soundness, performs certain consumer-protection functions, and manages banks in receiverships (failed bank
Established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) which provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders throughout the United States and its territories.
Established the Tennessee Valley Authority, (TVA) a federally owned corporation created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer, manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected by the Great Depression..
Throughout the first half of the century, Socialism as a political force was steadily declining. During the purge of the McCarthy era, the Socialist Party virtually disappeared. However, its influence and philosophy lived on and did not deter Harry Truman from pursuing a progressive agenda.
Harry Truman (April 1945 to January 1953) In February 1948, the president submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices dev**ed to issues such as v****g rights and fair employment practices. He also:
Signed Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, desegregating and requiring equal opportunity in the Armed Forces.
In 1948 made it illegal by executive order to discriminate against persons applying for civil service positions based on race.
In 1951, established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance (CGCC). This committee ensured that defense contractors did not discriminate because of race.
Presided over the Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) - the American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II
Supported the U.S. effort to create and to join the United Nations,
In addition he tried to put together a Health Care plan that was far more Socialist than Obama or Hillary Clinton can imagine, Almost as socialist as Canada. But it doesn't count because it failed to make inroads.
Dwight Eisenhower (January 1953 to January 1961) Ikes increase in government spending was nearly that of FDR. IKE would be considered the most socialist president ever at the time. His record shows that:
He kept everything FDR enacted.
He added additional cabinet level agencies like the departments of Health, Education, and expanded welfare.
The tax rate for the upper most wealthy was 91%!!!
He expanded civil rights for those of color, Sometimes using the military to do so.
He Also Created the interstate highway system
John Fitzgerald Kennedy(1960 to 1963) In JFKs short time as president he:
Expanded unemployment benefits
Provided aid to cities to improve housing and t***sportation,
Funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower,
A water pollution control act was passed to protect the countrys rivers and streams,
An agricultural act to raise farmers incomes was made law.[
A significant amount of anti-poverty legislation was passed by Congress, including increases in social security benefits and in the minimum wage,
several housing bills, and aid to economically distressed areas were passed
Several antirecession public works packages, together with a number of measures designed to assist farmers
Lyndon Baines Johnson ( November 1963 to Jan 1969) Johnson was responsible for designing the "Great Society" legislation , the war on poverty and pursuing environmental protection goals. Among his accomplishments were:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which gave every non-incarcerated American over the age of 21 the right to v**e.
Signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 which created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and eventually the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio
Signed Medicare, which provides health insurance for the elderly and disabled and Medicaid, which covers the poor, as part of an amendment Social Security , into law,
The Clean Air Act of 1963 which included numerous regulatory controls for air pollution.
In 1964, Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act, establishing the Office of Economic Opportunity to run this program. to coordinate all federal and state programs designed to help the poor
Signed the Food Stamp Act of 1964 following the food stamp pilot program started by JFK and expanded in 1974 and 77
Signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 the most expansive federal education bill ever passed and the most important educational component of the War on Poverty
Richard Nixon ( 1969 to 1974) . Some may be surprised to see Nixons name on this list. With his checkered legacy and the memory of resigning in disgrace, few remember that he did some good. He didn't grow government at the rate that LBJ, JFK, IKE, and FDR did, but he:
Enacted OSHA,
Created EPA
Presided over a top tax rate of 70%
Engaged in a rapprochement with C*******t China forging ties on many fronts
Ronald Reagan. (1981-1989) While the hero of the Republican party and normally not thought of as having a socialist bone in his body, by todays standards, he could be accused of that heresy.
Raised the corporate capital gains tax from 28% to 34%
Raised various other taxes twelve times and the income tax at 50 % for the highest earners was considered high by todays conservative standards
Grew the Federal Government by more than 300,000 workers