That New Deal Programs and the liberals that begate them have long outlive their usefulness is a long valid criticism. The criticism that the new deal sustained the depression is a bit hard to defend. Everytime programs were cut back or not renewed unemployment went up and economic growth slowed again - which is why Roosevelt was able to continue to expand these programs despite prolonged criticism from the Republicans, from the Supreme Court and from members of his own party, including his own treasury secretary. Now you might make the argument that you cannot measure the situation by looking at small fluctuations and that the only possible program for success was for the government to stay out of it altogether.
The Republicans had plenty of time and opportunity to attempt to demonstrate that thesis and failed. Now maybe you could argue that they should have been given 20 years. That is a generation though and no one has the tolerance to stand high unemployment for a generation to prove a point. It is political suicide. It was for the Repubicans at the time.
Roosevelt won 4 terms and he is dead. Stop fighting that battle. The vital issue for the Republicans should be a positive program to do the best for the citizenry of the US now given the world situation as it is today.
Everytime programs were cut back or not renewed unemployment went up and economic growth slowed again - which is why Roosevelt was able to continue to expand these programs despite prolonged criticism from the Republicans, from the Supreme Court and from members of his own party, including his own treasury secretary.
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I'm not sure this argument can be backed up. It is difficult to determine what is causing what. Lagging/leading indicators etc...
I don't think these programs should ever have been started and think they prolonged teh Great Depression.
But I agree, it is better to focus on the future than on the past. I would like to read more on the great depression. FDR's folly, was very illustrative, but other POV are welcome.
And as far as the Republicans at the time of the GD... I think they blew it when they raised taxes and reacted 'liberally', so to speak, to the GD.