Who wants to step backward?
My commentary is being offered in response to the comments by Mr. Dan Burkett, published in this space on Monday, Aug. 13.
In his rather excellent and well-written commentary, Mr. Burkett, who in the interest of appropriate disclosure should be identified as the president of the Indiana State University Young Republican Organization, has done a mostly acceptable job of highlighting some of the differences between classic Republicans and progressive, socially engaged Democrats.
He then, with evident sincerity, laments a commonly held national concern, that in the upper and lower houses of Congress both Republicans and Democrats seem incapable, in even the smallest and most insignificant matters, to achieve any compromise at all.
What Mr. Burkett fails to do is to discuss any of the stark differences in the vision of members of both parties for the future of our country. These differences of vision are revealed not only in future plans, but in the ways, in the past, members of both parties have contributed to the advancement of American life, at least since the dawn of the industrial revolution.
At the dawn of the industrial age, and thereafter, life in America offered great opportunity for a few, and great peril and disaster for many. For most, life was filled with non-mitigated risk, at least until the beginning of the Union movement, led by such giants as Samuel Gompers, and the early beginning of the 20th century government involvement in our daily lives, represented by such great acts as the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, instigated by Theodore Roosevelt.
Who among us wants to go back to the days of the early Industrial Revolution, when hundreds of thousands of American breadwinners and their families were regarded by the very few multimillionaire industrialists as nothing more than easily disposed of ants living in easily crushed ant hills?
Who wants to go back to the early days of the 20th century when, before Social Security, older people, particularly older people with little or no income, were left to live and die in the wretched hovels of our major and smaller (perhaps like Terre Haute) cities?
Who, especially, among today’s students who come from working class families, among us wants to go back to pre-World War II days, before the enactment of the Democratically inspired and enacted G.I. Bill, when college was only for the select few, olde and nouveau riche? (I dare to suggest here that, if it was 1912, that Mr. Burkett himself, bright and intelligent as he might be, would be apprenticing for a day laborer trade rather then being a presidential scholar of ISU.)
Yes, life for a minute few at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, before governmentally inspired, created, developed and maintained social programs forming the foundation of today’s safety net were put into place, was full of opportunity and possibility for the elite few, and the good Messrs. Romney and Ryan, who probably view them as what they might term as the “good ole’ days of yesteryear.”
On the one hand, Mr. Romney by word (“On my first day in office as president, I will repeal Obamacare”) and by action (“I now choose as my runningmate a man sworn to roll back all of the great societal reforms of the 20th Century including Social Security”) has clearly indicated his vision of a dog-eat-dog America. (Funny that neither one of this pair has targeted the Pure Food and Drug Act, so we could all go back to the days of rancid meats and spoiled dairy products sold from not-so-cool, broken down grocery coolers, oleo margarine laced with finel, ground sawdust (yes, it was made that way, sold that way, and eaten that way) and over-the-counter drugs liberally laced with opium and alcohol, sold to whomever for whatever. At least, those ingesting such drugs felt good — they felt real good.
As imperfect as you may think the National Stage Democrats are, as inadequate as you might think our statewide and local Democratic Party may be, remember the derring-do and sheer guts it took to pass such acts as Social Security, as controversial in its day as “Obamacare” is today.
Remember the great and historic alliances built by Republicans and Democrats (but always inspired and led by visionary Democrats).
Remember the past Democratic visions of the future which led to the great and historic social reforms of yesterday, and today, and which will lead us into an enlightened tomorrow. And then go and vote for the greater good of our great Republic.
— Earle L. Harvey
Terre Haute
Headstone for Savanna: Thanks!
We want to thank everyone for their help. A special thank you to Neoma Bell, Dresser Community Church, for their donations. We can’t believe how the community came together in such a time of need.
Savanna Orman’s headstone has been paid for and ordered! (Editor’s note: Savanna was a 3-year-old who drowned in a Terre Haute swimming pool.)
This goes to prove that God does answer prayers. God bless you all and thank you very much!
— Maria McCarter and the Orman families
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Wind Energy Push Leaves Trail of Dead Eagles
Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Music Therapy Bonds Parents and Preemies
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Tensions As Israel Targets Syria in Airstrikes
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
Raw: Spacewalking Astronauts Hope to Stop Leak
Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Officials Arrest Man in Idaho in Terrorism Case
Today in History, May 6th
Raw: Child, Stroller Falls Onto Pa. Train Tracks
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain
CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it
Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot
