New Deal or Raw Deal?: How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America

Setting the Record Straight

To the previous reviewer -- those entitlement programs are broke, so I guess they didn't work, did they?

The book is well-researched and even offers citations. Its hard to argue with any conclusions that the author draws, because the facts back them up. This book is full of information that you didn't learn in school. The Obama administration looks moderate, when you read what happened in the Roosevelt years. If you're want to know where Obama is taking our country, read this book.

10 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Not the greatest read

I was honestly hoping for this book to be great, and while exposing the New Deal for the sham that it was isn't all that difficult, the author unfortunately fails to deliver.

I'm not a leftist, a Socialist, a Democrat, or a Progressive. I'm a Conservative, Republican, and a Capitalist.

This book was actually difficult to get through, it was written from an extremely biased point of view, which you would expect, however the bias at some points was so thick, it caused this book to lose relevance.

It could have been a great book, and if nothing else is an anthology of the failings of FDR and the New Deal, however this cannot be considered a serious academic work.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Should be required reading for all

This was an excellent book and it points out how misguided government policies, programs, and federal spending prolonged the Great Depression. It gives you a glimpse into what is occurring today and possible outcomes. The book illustrates how government intervention in the free market can lead to market distortions and unintended consequences. What sounds good and popular to the average person on the street inevitably creates more problems than are solved and unfortunately it is the avearge person on the street that gets hurt. I was also captivated by FDR's ego and how destructive he could be if you opposed him. What a shame. After reading this book, I was left with a much different attitude about FDR, politicians, and government over-reach. Hence, the less government the better. It is simply wrong to use taxpayer money to curry favor through "patronage." FDR was a master of this, along with using other arms of the government to manipulate the voters: "the dole spoils the soul" or to attack his opponents e.g. IRS. Couldn't agree more. Fasinating book. A must read for anyone who is trying to understand why we are where we are today.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Sets the record straight!

This is excellent reading, although it deals with the process of converting the US into a welfare and government depending state in the early 1900s (Depression Era), it is completely relevant today. Socialists always try to gain control of the population with ill conceived plans during trying and desperate times. This book isn't deep or confusing, it is simple and easy to grasp. I will definitely pass along my copy to others.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Raw Deal

Raw Deal is what this book is about. It tells you what really happened in the the great depression. It tell how the polices of FDR made things worse. Also it the same plan Oboma is using to try and run this country He is trying the same things that did not work then and will not work know.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A Biased Opinion

It's sad that the other reviews for this book now seem to take it as factual. I guess you find the "facts" for which you search. This book is yet another opinion-based book. The facts are used to interpret history the way they want it interpreted. Obviously written by regressives who don't like the social safety net formed by the New Deal, it's sad they don't admit that programs like Social Security and laws like Glass-Steagall actually have helped stabilize people's retirement incomes and the financial system. I bet they won't be returning those SS checks once they start coming in..

4 out of 26 people found this review helpful.

Another book on FDR and how he prolonged the Great Depression

Here is another book on FDR and the Great Depression. The author tries to present FDR and the Democratic administration of the time as prolonging the Great Depression. Yes some of their policies did interfere with the economy, but it does not address the fact that FDR was following a lot of polocies advocated by Herbert Hoover. FDR basically tok these policies much further and at a national level. The book does not say anything about the individual states interfering with the economy. Nor anything abouth the federal government interference since the Progressive era. The author tends to be somewhat biased toward FDR. Yes he is probably right about the interference in the economy, but just imanigined what would have happened if Hoover had been reelected and the same policies had been continued as from 1929-1932. Want to bet that things probably have been worse? I do agree with the author in priciple, but if nothing had been done, I think things would have been even worse in the political sense.

2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Waste of time

The only thing that has damaged America is the Party of Hate on the Right who's philosophical view is so twisted against the average citizen. What a bunch of ill-informed extremists that have no concept of humanity.

1 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Good Read. Germane to Modern America.

This is the first book that I've read by this author. I've read other books on the subject matter. The author does not go into exhaustive detail to make his points, and the book is not replete with economic idiom. The book's content is shaped around his argument, and he discusses causality of the depression, as well as impacts of the NRA, AAA, TVA, WPA, taxation, FERA, financial interference, patronage, IRS abuses, attempts at court packing, labor relations, social security, and minimum wages. Once again he does not go into great detail in discussing the impacts. Readers looking for a more in depth read may be disappointed. He also discusses the abilities, ethics, and actions of FDR. FDR evangelists will also not be pleased with this book's subject matter. The book is an easy read. The subject matter is clearly germane to present day events.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Must Read

Easy flow of content; draw your own conclusion on subject matter.

History Repeats Itself

This book is worth reading in the times we live in today. The author chronicles FDR's faults as well as his achievements. I did have a problem with some quotes being repeated in different chapters. I recommend this for people who want to argue with New Deal supporters. It will make them think about their ideology and what is best for individual people.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book. You will learn things that you were not taught in school.

The previous review was nothing but liberal rant. You will learn that FDR ruled by executive order rather than let our system work the way in which our founders intended. You will learn about FDR's Second bill of rights granted by FDR rather than by your Creator. You will learn that FDR ruled by intimidation and threat of imprisonment to have his way. You will understand that FDR was the father of the entitlement system in the U.S. and that he taught our people to speak out loud and to demand entitlements as though they were rights granted by our Creator. FDR believed that people were entitled to a home and a living wage. He believed that these were rights. But who grants these rights...another man...or our Creator? Rights can only be granted by the Creator and no man can take them away. The Creator grants no rights that man can provide. FDR believed in the redisribution of wealth in order to grant 'his' rights. Socialism. Another step down the road to serfdom. The myth of FDR is exposed in this great book. You will be glad that you read it and it will give you some words to use in the battle for freedom.

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