A Second Bill of Rights

"It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens."

--Franklin D. Roosevelt, from his 1944 State of the Union address

It would appear our longest serving President was on to something before his untimely and unfortunate death. Reading the above quote, it would also be funny to consider that many of the points FDR made are now major concerns for the American public, that is if it wasn't so sad. Imagine our country if we would have adopted, politically (as FDR wanted it), a second credo or Bill of Rights striving towards all of the aforementioned goals. What would our country be like?

Would we still have poverty on the scale we do? Would we be suffering from our current situation on Wall Street and in the housing market? Would proper health care cost so much?

It's hard to say, and it's even more difficult to defend a position against these points if you're one of the lucky ones in this country not suffering from poverty, unplayable medical bills, or any one of societies many ills.

Think about it. It's easy for one to stand up and say governmental policies helping the less fortunate at the expense of the wealthy are bullshit, especially if you're one of the wealthy. Yet one must remember that the current source of their wealth is the governmental system that outlined the laws and rules that in effect allowed one to create their wealth. The wealthy owes as much to the poor and government as they do to their own hard work, in most cases maybe even more.

All around the world people are realizing that if we are going to make this world a great place for our kids we're going to have to do it together, hand-in-hand, no matter what the cost. This isn't about traditional values, explanations for markets, or "having the right to keep what's mine." This is about looking around your surroundings and understanding that we have just as much of a responsibility to our neighbors as we do to our family.

In light of this I everyone who reads this post to please consider what the above quote really means. However I want you to do so not as a Socialist, Republican, Libertarian, Democrat, Anarchist, or any other philosophy. No, instead take the time to consider FDR's points as a human first. When you're done, consider the world around you from that same perspective of humanity. Finally, think about what it would be like if you were not living in your current socio-economic position. If you do this I promise you that when it's all said and done, you will see what we as a nation need to do.

Society, it's time for a new deal. Are you with me?