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.
Two things. We were not there, and I don't think you realize how much wealth was concentrated in how few hands at the time. One does not have to be anti-capitalist to recognize that Vanderbilt did not earn all of his money by either the sweat of his own brow or the product of his own invetion. Nor did most of the other "grand" capitalists.
let me ask this. If you believe in the power of unbridled capitalism, do you also believe in the power of individuals to join together to fix the price of their labor? Or do your free market ideas just work one way and not the other?