Theodore Roosevelt himself, on how deals between government and business are disastrous.

In our age, the Republican party is accused of this on a daily basis, yet the reality is Republicans usually try to move government out of  the way for business. Here, Roosevelt is talking about special relationships between government and business, which is what has happened with these “bailouts” and the healthcare reform.

We have American corporatism.

So many businesses have left behind the idea of generating income and are now waiting for a government handout. This means we the people will pay them.

Another bit from T.R.:

“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”

Filed under: Wisdom of the Ages by admin