SECURITY VS. FREEDOM FDR-STYLE

FDR's Wise Take on U.S. Security (Cass R. Sunstein, May 27, 2003, LA Times)

It was on Jan. 11, 1944, that Roosevelt delivered his greatest and most reflective State of the Union address. He unified his speech around a single concept, security: "that means not only physical security which provides safety from attacks by aggressors. It means also economic security, social security, moral security." [...]

Roosevelt insisted that Americans "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."

And then Roosevelt listed the relevant rights: "The right to a useful and remunerative job 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 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 the right of every family to a decent home to adequate medical care the right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment; the right to a good education."

Do we get to vote on that 2nd Bill of Rights? Posted by Orrin Judd at May 27, 2003 6:47 PM