Bob Herbert: A Radical in the White House

• The nation is now in the hands of leaders who are experts at exploiting fear, and indifferent to the needs and hopes, even the suffering, of ordinary people.

His goal was "to make a country in which no one is left out." That kind of thinking has long since been consigned to the political dumpster. We're now in the age of Bush, Cheney and DeLay, small men committed to the concentration of big bucks in the hands of the fortunate few. To get a sense of just how radical Roosevelt was (compared with the politics of today), consider the State of the Union address he delivered from the White House on Jan. 11, 1944. Roosevelt referred to his proposals in that speech as "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 rights, he said, 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." Roosevelt's vision gave conservatives in both parties apoplexy in 1944 and it would still drive them crazy today. But the truth is that during the 1950's and 60's the nation made substantial progress toward his wonderfully admirable goals, before the momentum of liberal politics slowed with the war in Vietnam and the election in 1968 of Richard Nixon. [more]