Last night in group chat, we had a bunch of conversations (sometimes very heated) about what the Constitution does and does not allow. As part of it, we got into the US Great Depression, FDR, court packing, and the New Deal. One of our members asked for some more reading materials around the depression and why what she has been taught about it is wrong. I put together a short reading list of some articles and books for her in a notecard, and she's given me permission to share it with others. So, if anyone would like it, please let me know and I will be happy to IM it to you.
Most have learned in "history" classes that FDR, the New Deal, and WWII got us out of the Great Depression. All assertions are COMPLETELY false, but that doesn't keep many from teaching them and learning them. As to just one assertion, the New Deal actually PREVENTED the recovery from the Great Depression. (There's a great article called Warren Harding and the Forgotten Depression of 1920 at http://www.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods125.html that discusses the Depression of 1920-21 that no one ever hears about. Why not? Read the article and find out what the government did and why the recovery was so significant that everyone pretty much forgot about it.)
I'm not going to bore you with conspiracy theories as to why these lies are taught, as that is open for speculation. What is not open for speculation are economic facts. Through these links, you can start to learn about the economic facts and the logic around why what you've been taught is false. Hope it helps.
Articles I recommend:
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The Real Lessons of the Great Depression: http://www.lewrockwell.com/murphy/murphy155.html
The Courts and the New Deal: http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson123.html (you can skip down to "part 3" if you don't want to read the whole thing, though I think you would gain value from all of it as the whole article hits on some of the conversation from last night)
The Great Depression: http://mises.org/story/3515
The Book on FDR We Don't Have: http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north549.html (also lists a great number of books)
Books I recommend:
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Probably one of the most comprehensive books on the Great Depression (and it's free) is America's Great Depression
FDR's Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Great Depression and the New Deal
DISCUSS!
Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Dec 9, 2009 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=49
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