Programs Quotes
This is an excellent statement of an ultra conservative view of welfare where the welfare recipient is “punished” for succeeding by losing all or part of the welfare payment. On the other side is a need based philosophy. If someone is in need, welfare will help. But once the person is on his feet and no longer has the degree of need, the welfare payment is ended and the funds are available for someone else is in need.
This quotation shows FDR doing something that politicians rarely do. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression and he was running for the Presidency against Herbert Hoover who as President would do little to help the destitute part of the population or improve the economy. Roosevelt did not lay out specific programs which he claimed would fix the problem. He himself really didn’t know for certain what would and what would not. However he promised bold experimentation—trying new things. When he was elected, he was able to fail with one program and just shift to another until enough were successful. But the great contrast was to Hoover who would do little.
Two of the 20th centuries greatest political leaders were Mao Tse-Tung and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In most respects, these two were polar opposites. However, they had one characteristic in common. They were both willing to try things they were not certain of. If they succeeded, make it a part of the national program. If it failed, try something else. See Mao {642795}.
This is an excellent example of a rhetorical technique of taking programs that the candidate opposed but seemed to be popular and instead of giving reasons for his opposition to the programs, he associated them with the demonstrations and riots that were ongoing as if the programs caused the violence.
This line summarizes a principle of political leadership which demagogues understand intuitively and some other politicians learn. To galvanize or mobilize the public, set lofty, important objectives and goals and not small matters. Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, two of our greatest Presidents, were able to do this very well. Other presidents and many politicians try this with minor issues that they think important and great, but they are often unsuccessful because only a small part of the population—the true believers—agree with the importance and greatness.
This principle is very important in all kinds of human activity. We design and test or pilot test products and programs of all kinds—governmental and not. The testing may uncover a flaw or problem, but the failure to find flaws or problems does NOT mean that they are not inherent in the program—they may well be there and have not been uncovered by the tests. Often when this occurs, we refer to them as “unintended consequences.”
Emanuel argued that when the nation faced a crisis of one kind or another, and the administration had to take steps to cope with the crisis or ameliorate it, the time is often opportune to get some of their legislative program passed or reform areas that have been resistant.
