[The Great Satan]

But the article asserts that the great Depression of the '30s (and by analogy all depressions) would have been shorter if the government had simply stayed out of it. That's completely unproven. It's just as likely that there would have been civil war and revolution.

Well, it is certainly prima facie interesting that the United States suffered by far it's worst ever economic crisis just sixteen years after the federal government passed the Federal Reserve Act, supposedly to abolish economic crises. There is a lesson in there somewhere.

[liberallarry]

There is a lesson in there somewhere

Yes there is. The world is a strange and dangerous place - where we are forced to act upon imperfect information, knowing that our actions might make things worse rather than better.

It is perfectly legitimate to think that Hoover and Roosevelt made a mistake by intervening. It is not legitimate to criticize them for acting as they thought best. If you think you have a better way then try to get the nation to pursue it. It might turn out that your way is best...or it might not.

[liberallarry]

It is also interesting that during the '30s and '40s the rest of the world suffered through one of the worst periods in recorded history. We passed through it relatively unscathed and emerged as the most dominant power in world history.

Perhaps Hoover, the Roosevelts, etc. were right after all. It all depends on your point of view.