Still fighting the same battles...

Step with me back to the Great Depression, 1937. A popular radio voice, Charles Coughlin speaks words that seem just as relevant today:

What of democracy as well as what of capitalism?
Oh, capitalism shall
never again flourish as once it did. Capitalism has been almost taxed out of
existence in an effort to meet the coupons and the bonds, in an effort to meet
the dole system that is absolutely unnecessary in a country of our
wealth....
Somebody must be blamed, of course. But those in power always
forget to blame themselves. They always forget to read the Constitution of the
United States of America that says, “Congress has the power to issue and
regulate the value of money.” And blinding their eyes to that as they protect
the private issuance of money and the private fixation of money, we are going
merrily on our way.
Perhaps, perhaps another ambassador from another foreign
capital shall come upon the scene. Perhaps, despite the advice of Washington of
no foreign entanglements, despite the passage of the Jansen Act, which forbids
us to lend money to those who already have borrowed it and who have not returned
their loans, perhaps despite those things, some way, some miraculous way shall
be found to project America into the next maelstrom. And democracy once more,
thinking that it has power within its soul, shall rise up to clap and applaud,
because the youth of the land is going abroad to make the world safe for what?
Safe for dictatorship? Safe against communism abroad when we have communism at
home? Safe from socialism in France when we have socialism in America? Or safe,
safe for the international bankers?
I ask you to think seriously of your
decisions last November. You have asked for the New Deal that is an ancient deal
in all its finance. You have what you asked for. I ask you to abide by your
decision. You have been warned a thousand times. Those who warned you should now
bow their heads. Even though truth be on their side, you have paid the price,
democratic America. And now it is your turn to bear the burden in silence like
men keeping America safe for democracy.
Good evening. God bless you.