“The 20th century, especially from FDR onwards, saw a huge expansion of government intervention and thus the creation of agencies to carry it out.”
I can’t recall the guy’s name, but before FDR’s social programs somebody was calling on the government to give everybody (I think) $400. The plan was hugely popular and had been adopted in one form or another by FDR’s rivals who were garnering a disproportionate number of votes, thus threatening FDR’s base. FDR did them one better by creating a host of social programs that, on the surface, were designed to combat a depression where people were starving. (In reality, the results were the opposite of what was “intended.”) Politically, the give-sh*t-away-free political move was popular and got FDR reelected. Since there is always more to give away if FDR had been immortal he could still be president today.
You may be thinking of Huey Long, governor of Louisiana. He promoted an explicit “Share Our Wealth” program. Most folks at the time thought Long was a fascist and a pretty fine fellow. But then he got shot by someone who felt differently.
I think you are referring to the ‘Townsend Plan’. Dr. Townsend was all over the USA plugging his ‘plan’ in the late 1930s and he was getting large crowds. The catch for older folks was they had to spend the money to invigorate the economy or they were not eligible for the next months dole. These were the days of the ‘great depression’ and all kinds of proposals including FDR’s many programs. It seems to me that the plan was to give all older folks $250 each month with the condition to spend it. WWII came along and interest in the idea went down the drain.
Francis Townsend. He was offering senior citizens a certain sum- the one you mentioned sounds close- as a sort of economic stimulus.
Yes, even the Romans knew about giving free stuff as a successful electoral technique!
bump since it’s relevant today