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Title: Remembering Calvin Coolidge: how he rescued America from a Depression
Source:
Patriot Update
URL Source: http://patriotupdate.com/articles/r ... cued-america-from-a-depression
Published: Apr 30, 2011
Author: Nathaniel Davidson
Post Date: 2011-04-30 17:27:32 by CZ82
Keywords: None
Views: 19498
Comments: 40
Remembering Calvin Coolidge: how he rescued America from a Depression Written on April 28, 2011 by Nathaniel Davidson While we have recently been remembering the 40th President, Ronald Reagan, one of his heroes is almost forgotten today: the 30th President, John Calvin Coolidge, Jr., (1872–1933). If Americans remember anything about him, it’s for being a man of so few words that he was nicknamed Silent Cal. One story goes: a woman told him at a dinner, “Mr. Coolidge, I’ve made a bet against a fellow who said it was impossible to get more than two words out of you.” He replied, “You lose.” But he deserves to be known as one of our greatest presidents, helping to produce one of America’s most prosperous decades, the ‘Roaring 20s’. Early career Coolidge was born on Independence Day, 1872, in Vermont, but moved to Massachusetts as a young man. In 1905, he married a fellow Vermonter, Grace Anna Goodhue, a teacher of the deaf, in 1905, and they had two sons. He first trained as a lawyer, but became involved in politics slowly, gaining experience by climbing the political ladder. In 1896 he campaigned for Republican presidential candidate William McKinley, then being elected for Republican City Committee the next year. The year after that, he was elected to the City Council of Northampton. In the first decade of the 20th century, he had times in the State House of Representatives, as well as two terms as mayor of Northampton. This experience was a first hint of his greatness, as he reduced both debt and tax rates in the city. In 1912, he ran for the State Senate, and demolished his Democrat opponent. Two years later, he was elected Senate President. In his speech, “Have Faith in Massachusetts”, he presented his principles: Do the day’s work. If it be to protect the rights of the weak, whoever objects, do it. If it be to help a powerful corporation better to serve the people, whatever the opposition, do that. … Expect to be called a demagogue, but don’t be a demagogue. … Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. Don’t hurry to legislate. Give administration a chance to catch up with legislation. He would thus be spinning in his grave at Obama’s class warfare demagoguery, knowing full well that you can’t give the poor a bigger slice of the economic pie if you punish the bakers. Massachusetts governor In 1915, Coolidge ran for lieutenant governor under Samuel McCall, greatly contributing to their victories and re-elections (which were yearly at the time). In 1918, McCall didn’t run again, so Coolidge ran for governor, and defeated Democrat Richard Long. The most famous action was breaking the Boston police strike, which left the city defenceless against violence and rioters, and nine people killed. Coolidge was very firm, calling the strikers “deserters” and “traitors”, and told the AFL leader, “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anyone, anywhere, any time.” He brought in Massachusetts State Guard to keep order, and eventually replaced the striking police with new recruits. For this action, he won re-election by a huge reaction, and was praised even by Democrat President Woodrow Wilson. It was also an inspiration to Reagan’s breaking the Air Traffic Controllers’ strike, as well as a good precedent for dealing with government teachers unions in Wisconsin and New Jersey. Coolidge also showed his worth by refusing to raise taxes, and instead reduced the state debt by cutting government expenses by $4 million. This included vetoing a bill to increase legislators’ pay by 50%. But he also showed that conservatives are not anti-worker, by reducing the working week for women and children from 56 to 48 hours, saying, “We must humanize the industry, or the system will break down.” And in an action that might seem quaint by today’s standards, he supported the Constitution even when it went against his own beliefs. He was an opponent of Prohibition, but still vetoed a bill that allowed liquor sales since by that time, the Constitution prohibited alcohol sales because of the 18th Amendment. Instead of using liberal judges to invent a new interpretation of the Constitution, he wrote: “Opinions and instructions do not outmatch the Constitution. Against it, they are void.” I.e. if we don’t like what it says, then amend it by the proper procedures (as happened in 1933 by ratification of the 21st Amendment). Presidency For the 1920 Presidential election, Coolidge was surprisingly nominated for Republican Vice Presidential candidate, under Warren Harding, because another delegate read his “Have Faith in Massachusetts” speech. They faced off against the Democratic Presidential Candidate, and his running mate, someone called Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and won in a landslide, winning 60.3% to 34.1% of the vote (still a record) and 37 of the 48 States. Harding and Coolidge inherited a far worse mess than Obama did. After the devastation of World War 1 and the Spanish Flu, America had 11.7% unemployment and a top marginal tax rate of 73% (for income over a million dollars). Liberals wanted some public works programs, which would now be called “Stimulus packages”. But they rejected those, first because they were unconstitutional (as shown above, Coolidge actually believed it), and second, because they would suck money from the private sector so would not help the economy overall (see also Spendulus Spin). Instead, they cut the top rate to 25%, eliminating all income taxation for some two million people—and revenue went up not down! They also cut federal spending by 50%. So instead of budget deficits, America ran surpluses, American debt was reduced by 25%, and American credit was the most sought after in the world. And by 1923, unemployment had plummeted to 2.4%. And this was not just fake “make-work” stimulus jobs; allowing entrepreneurs to keep most of their money made this an incredibly fruitful time for new inventions. They developed Kleenex, scotch tape, the zipper, sliced bread, and especially the radio. In August 2, 1923, President Harding died in office, and Coolidge succeeded him. He was visiting his family in Vermont at the time, and upon receiving this news, he said a prayer, and his father, a notary public, swore him into office after midnight. The next day, he was re-sworn by the Chief Justice of the Washington DC Supreme Court. In the 1924 election, Coolidge was able to stand on the Harding–Coolidge record. It was so overwhelmingly obvious that even his Democrat opponent John Davis, likewise promoted limited government and lower taxes and regulation. The lefties fled to a third party candidate, Robert LaFollette (the silliness of third parties is explained in Why conservatives should hold their nose and vote Republican). This time, the spoiler effect was irrelevant, because Coolidge won convincingly with an absolute majority of 54.0% of the votes and 35 states, but it contributed to an almost 2:1 margin over his main opponent who gained only 28.8%. This was despite a family tragedy: the death of his younger son. Later years Coolidge declined to run in 1928, explaining, “If I take another term, I will be in the White House till 1933 … Ten years in Washington is longer than any other man has had it—too long!” His Republican successor, Herbert Hoover, Coolidge’s Commerce Secretary, ran on continuing Coolidge’s economic boom, and crushed the Democrat Al Smith by 40 states to 8 (58.2% to 40.8%). As we now know, he did anything but that (despite textbook mendacity that he was a “do-nothing President). While Hoover had previously been a great humanitarian and businessmen, as President he was a control freak, who increased spending, taxes, regulation and tariffs, starting the Great Depression. Coolidge had presciently criticised Hoover’s nomination, saying “for six years that man has given me unsolicited advice—all of it bad.” FDR easily defeated Hoover, sharply criticising Hoover’s big spending, but we now know that FDR was just Hoover writ large, and prolonged the Depression. Coolidge was not interested in running for President again, even when Hoover was headed for crushing defeat (FDR demolished him with 42 states to 6, and 57.4% to 39.7% of the vote). Instead, he was semi-retired, and was honorary president of the American Foundation for the Blind. He died suddenly of a heart attack on January 5, 1933, aged only 60. Learning from Coolidge Coolidge’s tax cut lesson was learned by President Kennedy, of all people, who likewise cut tax rates and increased revenues. Of course, Reagan also learned the lesson: slashing taxes, increasing revenues—and overwhelming winning re-election. Unfortunately Obama is learning FDR’s lesson: who cares about running up massive debt while the economy flounders, as long as he can buy votes?
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#1. To: CZ82 (#0)
The author left out the part where FDR was re-elected, and re-elected.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Did FDR follow the constitution?
Do you really think she cares?
Now, I know I’m not going to change the minds of any of the True Believers…those who read all of Reverend Al’s sermons, and say things like, “You know, global warming can mean warmer OR colder, wetter OR drier, cloudier OR sunnier, windier OR calmer, …”. Can I get an ‘amen’??
Do you think she doesn't care? Or she doesn't understand the constitution?
There was no Constitutional limit on the number of terms the president could serve at the time.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
That wasn't the question. Did FDR follow the constitution? Not talking about term limits.
I think I understand the Constitution better than either you or ngt, however, that's just my humble opinion.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Then what are you talking about? Everything he did during his entire administration?
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
That is a good starting place. Give me some things you think he did that are unconstitutional. Then give me a list of things that he did that you believe to be constitutional but you know others consider them to be unconstitutional. Then throw in why you think you and FDR are correct. I'll throw one out. His first act he did was impeachable. Do you know what that was?
The US Congress disagreed and the Supreme Court, IIRC and which was not a court pre-disposed to "friendliness" to FDR, declined to hear the case. The banking system was, by that time, under the purview of the Federal Government. FDR did not exercise an extra-constitutional power...
America...My Kind Of Place...
war, you wouldn't know extra constitutional power if it was the hottest chick on the planet.
Stone...even if I knew nothing I'd still be a constitutional erudite next to you...
America...My Kind Of Place...
In his first year he proposed spending 10 billion on 3 billion of revenues; from 1933 to 1936 government expenditures went up more than 83 percent. He closed all banks with no intention or thought of ever re-opening them (banks are not needed in Marxist economics). After two years the New Deal was such a failure through waste, mismanagement and outright graft that FDR had to introduce a "New New Deal." The ND has been called 'a study in economic confusion.' FDR undermined the Constitution with blank-check appropriations which allowed him to control spending and blank-check legislation which allowed him to set up agencies to pass laws and regulations.
Roosevelt closed the banks without approval of congress. Wasn't he also involved in the Buck act?
I doubt it was to ask Congress to convene a special session, so it must have been declaring a bank holiday.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
We all know that calling you a jack leg would be a compliment.
You're joking, right?
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
I gotta go get some ice cream and a movie. Give them an education about the banking holiday and how FDR amended the trading with the enemy act to steal Americans gold.
He unlawfull closed banks. That is indisputable.
He didn't need the approval of Congress. The Federal Reserve Act put the private banking system under the purview of a publicly controlled entity. The Act that Congress passed codified a power that was implied in the Federal Reserve Act. The "Buck Act" was passed in 1940.
America...My Kind Of Place...
That makes about as much sense as Mammy trying to teach somebody something.
America...My Kind Of Place...
Probably not.
“It turns my stomach to hear this assumption articulated that we have to, despite the fact that we are raking in the federal government $6 billion a day. - Half Governor Sarah Palin
There is no way that you typed that, Mammy. Post the link to your source.
America...My Kind Of Place...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091029192627AA3jM7I Here it is, from Yahoo answers. Ms. Plagiarist is still out there, really really out there, and this is in more ways than one.
You are so fucking busted, Mammy, that we need a new word for "busted"...
America...My Kind Of Place...
And then look for a new floral pattern wallpaper for the powder room?
America...My Kind Of Place...
It certainly seems to have made the rounds. The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
It was so freaking obvious that she did not type that...the lack of misspellings alone betrayed her... Then again, maybe a ghost typed it...[wink]
America...My Kind Of Place...
FDR found it necessary to declare a national emergency, the effect of which was to suspend our Constitution, a suspension that exists to this day? On October 6, 1917, the Congress had passed the Trading with the Enemy Act, dealing with how the government may control the activities of those considered to be enemies or allies of enemies of our government. Prior to 1933, Paragraph 5 (b) of that Act read, "That the President may investigate, regulate or prohibit, under such rules as he may prescribe by means of foreign exchange, export or earmarkings of gold or silver coin or bullion or currency, transfers of credit in any form (other than credits relating to transactions to be executed wholly within the United States)..." Since 1917, then, the President had the power to seize or block financial transactions of those considered to be our enemy. It is also very clear that, in 1917, the Congress wanted to exclude the American people from the oppression of such powers. The bill was, after all, supposed to define our government's posture in dealing with our enemies or allies of our enemies. The Emergency Banking and Relief Act, passed by Congress in special session on March 9, 1933, modifies paragraph 5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act just discussed. The modified paragraph reads, "Section 2. Subdivision (b) of section 5 of the Act of October 6, 1917 (40 Stat. L. 411), as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: (b) During time of war or during any other period of national emergency declared by the President, the President may, through any agency that he may designate, or otherwise, investigate, regulate, or prohibit, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, by means of licenses or otherwise, any transactions in foreign exchange, transfers of credit between or payments by banking institutions as defined by the President, and export, hoarding, melting or earmarking of gold or silver coin or bullion or currency, by any person within the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof; and the President may require any person engaged in any transaction referred to in this subdivision to furnish under oath, complete production of any books of account, contracts, letters or other papers, in connection therewith in the custody or control of such person, either before or after such transaction is completed. Whoever willfully violates any of the provisions of the subdivision of any license, order, rule or regulation issued there under, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000..." This Act granted to the President broad sweeping investigative and prosecutorial powers against anyone, including the American people, found by the President to be an enemy. By removing the former "...transactions to be executed wholly within the United States..." the Congress was effectively putting the American people in the same category as our nation's enemies, and gave the President essentially dictatorial powers. This Act was, of course, unconstitutional. Historians tell us FDR stacked the U.S. Supreme Court with judges who would vow to continue his dictatorial powers. Those powers have been assumed by all Presidents since FDR, including the one presently in the White House. Small wonder, then, that none have adhered to a strict upholding of our Constitution, despite swearing an oath before God to do so. The dictatorship would end, the Federal Reserve's stranglehold on our government would end, and our Constitutional Republic would be restored. Later in 1933, Colorado's Governor Ed Johnson radically transformed Colorado state government, creating all the departments to handle such "licensing" privilege assumed by the President. That is the year a licensing authority was assumed by state governments to regulate marriages, driving, hunting, automobiles, and trade. Preliminary research indicates many other states were being transformed, as well. The governors, you see, had agreed to this unconstitutional assault a few days before March 9, 1933. The solution to this exploitation of the American people is solely within the hands of the President. By simply issuing an Executive Order to end the state of emergency, our Constitution could be returned as the Supreme Law of the Land. So far in 1995, no Presidential candidate, except for Republican Charles Collins of Georgia, has had the courage to tell the truth about our nation's real troubles. Only a public demand of the highest magnitude will force our Constitution to the front again.
LOL! Thanks.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Blah blah fucking blah... Recitation without analysis is not making an argument...
America...My Kind Of Place...
It really wouldn't have mattered where it came from war, because, in your case, stupid still can't be fixed, even when you're staring at the truth.
Not a particularly witty retort. Though thanks for showing that when you try to think, your brain is not your friend.
Didn't that plan fail?
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Yep. This is Mammy giving us one of those...whatchamacallits...an edumammycation...
America...My Kind Of Place...
Yup.
“It turns my stomach to hear this assumption articulated that we have to, despite the fact that we are raking in the federal government $6 billion a day. - Half Governor Sarah Palin
Look at this. The guy broke the law just by being born. Damn! FDR's DISREGARD FOR LAW FDR was born January 30, 1882.
“It turns my stomach to hear this assumption articulated that we have to, despite the fact that we are raking in the federal government $6 billion a day. - Half Governor Sarah Palin
One of them edumammycations could be dangerous to the edumammycatee's health, leading to feelings of persecution and inappropriate expressions of outrage.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Another thing Obama has in common with FDR.
The Republican budget goes after children and the poor. Courage would be going after defense and the rich. Bill Maher
Ha...
America...My Kind Of Place...
Unfortunately Obama is learning FDR’s lesson: who cares about running up massive debt while the economy flounders, as long as he can buy votes?
#2. To: lucysmom (#1)
The author left out the part where FDR was re-elected, and re-elected.
#3. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Did FDR follow the constitution?
#4. To: no gnu taxes (#3)
#5. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Did FDR follow the constitution?
#6. To: lucysmom (#5)
#7. To: A K A Stone, no gnu taxes (#4)
Do you think she doesn't care? Or she doesn't understand the constitution?
#8. To: A K A Stone (#6)
Did FDR follow the constitution? Not talking about term limits.
#9. To: lucysmom (#8)
Then what are you talking about? Everything he did during his entire administration?
#10. To: A K A Stone (#9)
#11. To: war (#10)
#12. To: A K A Stone (#11)
#13. To: A K A Stone (#9)
I'll throw one out. His first act he did was impeachable. Do you know what it was?
#14. To: war (#12)
#15. To: A K A Stone (#9)
Do you know what that was?
#16. To: war (#12)
#17. To: Murron (#13)
He closed all banks with no intention or thought of ever re-opening them (banks are not needed in Marxist economics).
#18. To: Murron (#13)
#19. To: lucysmom (#17)
#20. To: A K A Stone (#14)
Roosevelt closed the banks without approval of congress.
#21. To: A K A Stone (#16)
We all know that calling you a jack leg would be a compliment.
#22. To: lucysmom (#17)
You're joking, right?
#23. To: Murron (#13)
#24. To: war, murron (#23)
FDR broke every campaign promise he had made and the New Deal was exactly the opposite of what he had promised. FDR had promised "I propose to you that the government, big and little, be made solvent and that the example be set by the President of the United States and his cabinet...Stop the deficits! Stop the deficits!" FDR made a flat promise to "reduce the cost of government operations 25 percent" and called for a sound gold currency (!). Instead, Franklin Deficit Roosevelt engaged in an orgy of spending and implemented the first twelve planks of the Socialist Party platform, which in substance was the New Deal. In his first year he proposed spending 10 billion on 3 billion of revenues; from 1933 to 1936 government expenditures went up more than 83 percent. He closed all banks with no intention or thought of ever re-opening them (banks are not needed in Marxist economics). After two years the New Deal was such a failure through waste, mismanagement and outright graft that FDR had to introduce a "New New Deal.". The ND has been called 'a study in economic confusion.' FDR undermined the Constitution with blank-check appropriations which allowed him to control spending and blank-check legislation which allowed him to set up agencies to pass laws and regulations.
#25. To: Ferret Mike, Murron (#24)
#26. To: A K A Stone (#18)
I gotta go get some ice cream and a movie.
#27. To: Ferret Mike (#24)
Here it is, from Yahoo answers. Ms. Plagiarist is still out there, really really out there, and this is in more ways than one.
#28. To: lucysmom (#27)
(Edited)
#29. To: A K A Stone, ALL (#18)
Give them an education about the banking holiday and how FDR amended the trading with the enemy act to steal Americans gold.
#30. To: war (#28)
[wink]
#31. To: Murron (#29)
#32. To: war (#23)
There is no way that you typed that, Mammy. Post the link to your source.
#33. To: Murron (#32)
"It really wouldn't have mattered where it came from war, because, in your case, stupid still can't be fixed, even when you're staring at the truth."
#34. To: Murron (#29)
This Act was, of course, unconstitutional. Historians tell us FDR stacked the U.S. Supreme Court with judges who would vow to continue his dictatorial powers.
#35. To: lucysmom (#34)
(Edited)
#36. To: lucysmom (#34)
Didn't that plan fail?
#37. To: lucysmom (#27)
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/fdr.html
#38. To: war (#35)
#39. To: Skip Intro (#37)
Look at this. The guy broke the law just by being born.
#40. To: lucysmom (#39)
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