FDR'S "Economic Bill Of Rights"

Michael Moore uses FDR's Fireside Chat as a "coda" to his new film.

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 (this was OVER 60 fucking YEARS AGO! W.) 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.

SIXTY FUCKING YEARS, friends. The capitalist oligarchy has stood in the way of the provision of these puny, miserable conditions for SIXTY FUCKING YEARS. Basta! Enough. If the Congress and President cannot meet these simple conditions for the health and well-being of the people, they deserve no loyalty, no esteem, no respect.

They deserve to be flogged...all of them. They bear no stake in these matters. If their bodies were in peril, then we'd get some action. As long as there are only 'electoral' consequences, they'll just continue to fuck us. And they won't stop until and unless their jellied asses are on the line.