Franklin Roosevelt: A call for Federal Responsibility - Book Report/Review Example

Franklin Roosevelt: A call for Federal Responsibility Author’s Background Franklin D Roosevelt served as the thirty-second President of the United States between the years 1933 and 1945.He was the nephew to Theodore Roosevelt, who also served as a US president. Franklin schooled at the Groton School that shaped his social responsibility virtue and enabled him to serve the US citizens. He, however, served the US during its worst times: the World War II and the Great Depression era. Roosevelt first served as a senator in 1910 (Roosevelt & Howard, 14). This year accounted for his first year into election as a senator. In his early thirties, Franklin suffered from poliomyelitis. Even though he wasn’t fit and well healthy, his dream of becoming the president does not wither away. Franklin made a return to the political arena in 1924 through the Democratic National Convention. He places Alfred Smith as the Nominee for President of the United States. Franklin’s delivery speech gathered enough Democrats to back up Alfred Smith. The same democrats encouraged Roosevelt to run for Governor of New York State. Smith lost the presidency but Roosevelt won by a small margin. It is during this time that he initiated various reforms such as the civil service reforms, as well as welfare reforms. He also developed the extents of public power. Through these developments, Roosevelt used them as strategies to brand himself a presidential image. He even promised the delegates a ‘New Deal’ during a National Convention held. This term formed a part of US history and became linked to his presidency. Historical Background During Roosevelt presidential reign as the US president, the gold standards were demolished and the Social Security Act was incorporated. This Social Security Act was necessitated by the fact that US was then involved in World War II. This Social Security Act provided for various benefits applicable on a national scale. The benefits include; disability insurance, retirement funds, as well as unemployment compensation among others. In his part of the ‘New Deal’, Franklin Roosevelt offered to give financial aid and technical exposure to various businesses and farms. Franklin implemented the National Industrial Recovery Act that was used to promote labor unionization, maintain commodity prices, as well as eliminate various cutthroat prices on some commercial activities. Even though some of these programs were regarded as socialistic by some various critics, they were enhancing the people’s welfare and were funded by the US government. However, one of the major drawbacks that these programs caused was that they created federal deficits in the US budget that could not be reconciled. Roosevelt defeated his opponents for four terms as he made history. Most scholars often referred to him as the greatest President after Abraham Lincoln. Through his power structure, he was able to circumvent the Congress and his cabinet to ensure that his programs meant for the US citizens were a success. Through his manipulation of foreign policy, Roosevelt found ways to help the Allies against the Axis power. Roosevelt often advocated preparedness as he foresaw the beginning of World War II that began in Europe. To a single act that gave up the US neutrality, Roosevelt decided to provide warships to the British army who docked them in the West Indies (Roosevelt & Howard, 21). It was during this period that he introduced the Lend-Lease Act in which allied countries had the chance to trade leased foreign bases in exchange for ships and supplies done through a cash and carry arrangement. This arrangement allowed the delivery of materials to their ports by use of American ships. Audience In one of his speeches on the Call for Federal Responsibility, Franklin Roosevelt asked the Democratic convention that took place in Chicago on what the American people wish for. The Democratic Convention had just nominated him as their presidential candidate. Roosevelt argued that work and security are the most important things that American citizens value(Roosevelt & Howard, 49). These two basic items formed the basis of the true goals that Roosevelt actions were constructed upon to American citizens. Roosevelt often argued that the federal government was responsible for the welfare of the citizens. At his tenure as the Governor of New York, he sponsored the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration in which he undertook various public and relief works. Main Point A lot of issues were raised about the welfare of the US people, but most importantly, the issue at hand incorporated the role of the federal government towards the citizens. Franklin advocated for a call for federal responsibility towards the nationals. This role was incorporated in various principles such as the primary duty of taking care of unemployment resting among the local government and private agencies. In areas where the free market sovereignty failed to cater for the population, there lied an obligation on the government to intercede. Roosevelt greatly increased employment opportunities even though it was paramount that state funds as well as supervised systems supervised by the government had to be sacrificed. Fact or Opinion The entire review is based on facts as these tactics were employed by Roosevelt as tactics that would help improve lives of the people. A special session of the legislature was appointed and they appropriated twenty million dollars to cater for unemployment relief. The funds had to be reimbursed to the state government by doubling the income tax of the US citizens. The New York State became the first state to accept the direct obligation of providing local funds to support Roosevelt’s programs; even though these funds were not enough. The State of New York worked successfully in the following years and appropriated another five million dollars, as well as a thirty million bond issue for the federal government to provide for public goods and services (Roosevelt & Howard, 63). It is also certain that obligations exceeded state control as well as the federal government when it was clear that communities and states were not able to handle the required relief work. From Roosevelt remarks, it was evident that the modern society through the government had the obligation to stop the famishment of people that were unable to maintain themselves. Aid had to be extended to such victims as a way of fulfilling social duty towards them and not applying charity. Bias Through the Democratic national platform, Roosevelt suggested that the federal government had a mandate to maintain the necessary human welfare, both children and adults. This duty should be carried out by the federal government with prompt and free from favor. There existed certain disincentives to the people about these policies. The doubling of taxation meant that for the working class, they would have to sacrifice more money to cater for the needy. This action also meant that the income earners had less income to spend on gods and therefore, affected the market equilibrium of demand and supply of goods. Giving the needy and the unemployed free basic goods would make some of the people content. Some citizens were unwilling to step out and look for jobs as they rather preferred relief from the welfare policies of the state. It took several years to implement some of the policies and after several crashes, the sole efforts made by the national administration with regards to the distress of unemployment was to deny its existence. This action involved a generalization of the economy as unemployed people directly affected the level of goods and services available for consumption in the country. Cause and Effect The entire review rests upon cause and effect relationships with regards to the main issue argued by Roosevelt on a call for federal responsibility. Roosevelt consistently recappedhis conviction about the expenditures of cities, federal government, as well as states to be concentrated in the nation’s interest. He implemented ways in which such reduction of expenditures would take place. He again focused his attention and attitudes to appropriating public works as a way of creating employment to the unemployed. These public responsibilities cost money and owing to the fact that government budgets are not easily balanced by appropriations and actual expenditures, unaccommodating financial policies have threatened the future stability of the economy (Roosevelt & Howard, 84). Final Evaluation Even though Roosevelt had good intentions for the citizens, it was evident that something good had to be developed in sacrifice of another. Federal responsibility was a major task to call upon even though it was deemed necessary. With the development of capitalism, it was evident that there would be unequal distribution of resources between the rich and the poor in the society. Most scholars argue that capitalism created poverty and led to the situation of unemployment due to the fact that most resources are concentrated among few individuals. Work cited Roosevelt, Franklin D, and Howard F. Bremer.Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y: Oceana Publications, 1971. Read More