My vote is yes. I have a few reasons why. For anyone who votes no, I want actual contributions to the thread- I want you to tell me which President was worse, and why.

 

1. The National Industrial Recovery Act. The NIRA was an act that allowed and promoted monopolies and cartels in order to keep prices and wages high, as well as restricted output. Not only is this highly unconstitutional, but keeping nominal prices and wages artificially high only results in higher unemployment. Furthermore, many defenders of the New Deal are also opponents of supposed big business in oil and other industries. How can you defend this program of encouraging monopolies?

 

2. The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933. Another policy of restricting output and keeping prices high, as millions of Americans were out of work and going hungry, the federal government plowed 10 million acres of crops, slaughtered 6 millions pigs, and left fruit to rot.

 

3. Misuse of executive orders. FDR issued more executive orders than those from Truman to Clinton combined, for a grand total of 3,723. These orders ranged from seizing private business during strikes to putting our fellow Americans of Japanese descent into internment camps.

 

4. Perhaps the worst of these, and the most insulting to Americans, was his court-packing scheme. Some of the horrible, unconstitutional acts by FDR were eventually overturned by the Supreme Court. However, this was inconvenient for FDR's agenda, and he had a convenient solution. FDR proposed that for each Supreme Court justice that did not retire by the age of 70, he could add another Justice (up to 6). This was because Supreme Court Justices had been making statements in response to New Deal programs such as, "It is not the province of the Court to consider the economic advantages or disadvantages of such a centralized system. It is sufficient to say that the Federal Constitution does not provide for it," (Justice Charles Evan Hughes) and, "The question is not what power the federal government ought to have, but what powers, in fact, have been given by the people." (Justice Owen Roberts). So FDR decided to try to pack the court as a way to circumvent the Constitution and the respect that the SC was showing it.

 

In conclusion, FDR's disrespect for the constitution and our founding fathers led to groundwork for the corruption and insanity that goes on in Washington today. He changed the culture of DC, into one that believes that nothing can be done without the government and it's full taxing and legislating authority stepping in. If not for his actions 80 years ago- his encouragement of monopolies, his essential imprisonment of Japanese-Americans, and his disrespect for the Constitution- I submit that America would vastly different today, and for the better.

Nope...George W is my choice.

Nope...George W is my choice.

That's fine if you think that, but as I indicated in the post, I want reasons why. Tell me why George W. Bush was a worse President. I was generous enough to give my time to explain my reasons, and all I asked for was that others give their reasons. Personally, having lived through W's presidency, while I'm not a fan at all, I don't think they compare to what FDR did (and more imporantly tried to do) Now let's hear your reasons

:popcorn:

 

This will either be a very fun thread to follow or will die a quick death because, after your very succinct points, you may not get anyone to defend him.

Nope...George W is my choice.

 

I will agree here.

 

If you have to ask why, then obviously you haven't been paying attention for the last decade.

I will agree here.

 

If you have to ask why, then obviously you haven't been paying attention for the last decade.

 

So let me get this straight....The guy has been out of office not even 200 days, and that's enough time to make an accurate assessment on his presidency? :lol: That's funny right there.

So let me get this straight....The guy has been out of office not even 200 days, and that's enough time to make an accurate assessment on his presidency? :lol: That's funny right there.

 

Yeah, I think in the following years his presidency will be looked at even worse.

Yeah, I think in the following years his presidency will be looked at even worse.

 

So let's hear your reasoning...Isn't that what the thread asked?

So let's hear your reasoning...Isn't that what the thread asked?

 

Do you mean besides the obvious?

I'll go out on a limb and say that the creation of Social Security, the TVA, the CCC, the SEC, the WPA, and perhaps most importantly, the repeal of Prohibition:D nudge FDR past Dubya.

Do you mean besides the obvious?

 

There's nothing obvious about it. The thread asked to say who you felt was the worst, and give your reasons. "The obvious" is not a reason.

I'll go out on a limb and say that the creation of Social Security, the TVA, the CCC, the SEC, the WPA, and perhaps most importantly, the repeal of Prohibition:D nudge FDR past Dubya.

 

That is one of the major reasons I feel FDR is the worst.

Not the worst, but I think he is overrated.

 

Do you mean besides the obvious?

 

Come now I know you are more intelligent than such a cop-out answer.

 

I don't rank GW that high, but to be fair as someone with a background in history I want to wait some time before I consider judging any presidency. 1970's on is too soon as of now to look at without personal bias.

Can I answer this question in 2012 ?

That is one of the major reasons I feel FDR is the worst.

 

I'm guessing that there are a couple hundred million seniors, disabled, widows/widowers and children of deceased parents who, over the decades, are pretty happy that FDR implemented the Social Security Act.