In regards to the min. wage increase to $15 here in Washington I keep hearing raves of FDR's economy being brought up in arguments on the internet so I feel it is fitting to clear my craw here. Minimum wage started as part of the Fair Employment act under FDR back in 1938. It was meant to keep employees paid a fair and living wage. Yes, this is a positive, this was a huge progressive movement for employment regulations, even if it's gone screwy since then. However, let us not think FDR's magically profitable economy out of the depression was in spite of WWII, and it should not be viewed as an admirable comparable for today's discussions. First our American companies profited GREATLY by selling to the Nazi war effort (and other countries as they fought long before we entered), Ford alone supplied 70% of Nazi ground transportation and even sued America (it's home country) after the war for wartime damages (remember that built Ford tough American pridesters). Our (being America) companies brought in millions and billions into our economy, literally profiting off the misfortune of others (not a new concept here). So we have money coming in, lots of it adding it to our economy and yeah well supplying jobs it doesn't matter where it comes from right? Then with the war going on our own government uses propaganda everywhere to buy war bonds, grow your own Victory gardens (grow your own food), banding the country together all for the war movement, help our troops, do your part, directing where our money goes pulling the country further out of a depression. So yeah by the time we entered, the war had raged on our troops were fresh (sucks still don't get me wrong but look at the fatality numbers of other countries) the country banded together and we now had a blossoming economy to support it. Other shifty things continued but there were a few positives like our workforce did change, but only because it had to once the men were shipped off, women took up the jobs, at a lower rate mind you, did we already forget about aiming for fair employment? Then after the war we as women were kind of enlightened and thankful not all returned to the kitchens, so that is a plus however we still in general make less for the same job, then that minimum wage thing has become really fucked up, a large portion living in depression, and this time there is not a simple fix. (My opinion on the wage increase is a topic for another day btw.)
P.S. There were a lot of positives as well that came out of this time, but I'd just like to see caution be taken when re-writing history and applying it to today.
I use to really admire FDR, then I become more critical instead of an abstract like, I found it deplorable when I learned that there was a ship of orphans that escaped Nazi occupation, and tried to seek refuge, they waited for days trying to dock, and FDR had them turned away from landing in America, and all they could do was go back to uncertain deaths. Yes, a boatload of orphans would be a tax on our country, being mouths that needed feeding and would require financial assistance, so I can understand why the decision was made, but I'm not sure that's the kind of America I want to believe in. "Give us your hungry, your poor, no more. (see conditions)" I guess is what the Liberty Statue should read now.
Here's another lil blog who looks like he went through a similar change in taste, http://histsociety.blogspot.com/2013/08/from-roosevelt-to-roosevelt.html
