Guest Post by Pat Buchanan
Politically, the Depression worked for the Democratic Party like no other event in history. After the Crash of 1929 under Herbert Hoover, the GOP held the House and Senate for only four of the next 50 years.
As of April 30, the coronavirus pandemic has killed 61,500 Americans in two months and induced the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.
And if history is our guide, the economic crisis, which has produced 30 million unemployed Americans in six weeks, may prove more enduring, ruinous and historic than the still-rising and tragic death toll.
The Spanish flu of 1918-1919, the deadliest pandemic in modern history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide, a third of the planet’s population, and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including 675,000 Americans.
“Adjusting for the difference in the size of the American population then and now,” writes Chronicles columnist Roger McGrath, “that number will be equivalent to two million deaths today.”
Yet, the Spanish flu did not shut America down.
As the Spanish flu hit and spread in 1918, the U.S. raised, trained and equipped an army of 4 million men, sent 2 million soldiers to France, broke Gen. Erich Ludendorff’s army, and turned the tide in favor of the Allies.
By December 1918, Doughboys were arriving in New York harbor — having sailed home from Europe’s battlefields on flu-infested transports.
As the scourge continued to take its toll, Woodrow Wilson sailed to Europe, participated for months in the Paris Peace Conference, returned, went on a national train tour to sell his Paris treaty and League of Nations, and suffered a stroke.
In September 1919, Gen. Pershing led his victorious troops in victory parades in New York City and Washington. This writer’s father, a teenager then, was in the D.C. crowd.
In the history books of the 1950s, World War I, Wilson and the Senate battle over the treaty he brought home and U.S. membership in the League of Nations loomed far larger than the Spanish flu that had killed as many U.S. soldiers as the Kaiser’s armies.
But the Great Depression, to which our current crash is now being compared, did not last for just a year like the Spanish flu. The Depression lasted from the stock market crash in October 1929 to the eve of World War II.
Economically, it was devastating. Unemployment during the 1930s never fell below 14%. In 1937, it was back up to 17%.
At the bottom of the Depression, the stock market had lost 90% of its value, and the GDP had fallen 50%. Not until the end of FDR’s second term, in 1940, when the U.S. began to gear up for the war, did America really begin to pull out of it.
FDR’s New Deal, however, while it did not cure the Depression, was a historic political triumph for both the president and his party.
From 1930 through 1946, Democrats controlled both houses of the Congress every year, elected and reelected FDR four times and gave him a 46-state landslide in 1936, losing only Maine and Vermont.
What this suggests is that the economic devastation we have brought upon ourselves to battle the pandemic may prove more lasting and historic in its impact than the terrible losses of human life to COVID-19.
Politically, the Depression worked for the Democratic Party like no other event in history. After the Crash of 1929 under Herbert Hoover, the GOP held the House and Senate for only four of the next 50 years.
From 1932 to 1968, the GOP lost the presidency in seven of nine elections. Only Dwight Eisenhower’s two terms in the 1950s interrupted a 36-year reign of the Democratic Party in the White House.
Richard Nixon broke the Democratic dominance and took back the White House for the Republicans in 1968. But it would still take another dozen years before the GOP won control of either house of Congress.
President Trump predicts a V-shaped recovery, the greatest boom in U.S. history. But it is well to recall what happened to the GOP when it failed to deliver in the last Depression.
Just as the Civil War was the defining event of the 19th century, giving us 13 Republican presidents from Lincoln to Hoover and only two Democrats — Grover Cleveland and Wilson — how and when we emerge from this new Depression may tell us which party not only wins 2020 but also dominates the new era.
And as one sees the growing divisions along political lines, with conservatives and populists calling for the country to be opened up, and liberals and Democrats calling for continued sheltering in place, both seem to realize the stakes.
Democrats may proclaim that they are eager to see the pandemic come to a swift and early end and the economy to return quickly to the robust state it was in last February.
But the cold political interests of the Democratic Party today are what they were in Hoover’s time, to pray that the president fails, and fails badly, so that they inherit the estate.
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Never switch a horse in midstream. Unless the cinch strap has come undone and you are now underneath the horse drowning. And unemployed. Wearing a mask.
“Wearing a mask.”
a sissy rag – zman 2020
The Covid-19 thing has been a political issue from jump street. I still maintain this is not a right left issue it is a political class issue VS Trump. Like HsF said, never switch horses midstream. Don’t play into the Deep States hand by trashing Trump. Instead support the only man that has been more of a President than anyone over the last 50+ years. The real pain will come if we don’t hold our ground and beat the snot out of the deep state and all those individuals involved in it. Just my opinion.
I also think a better question to ask, will a Deep Depression determine the fate of the USA and all it stood for if we let this administration fail?
Trump is an asshole. He’s a deep state tool and not worth shit.
The real problem is the political system that demands a ‘President’ get elected and those that unthinkingly surrender to this nonsense by rooting for asshole A versus asshole B.
Wake the hell up.
How is Trump deep state? Is he just playing his role to keep us distracted on voting for one party or the other?
The way I see it is we’re a nation without leaders. With all his flaws and obnoxious behavior, he’s still the only one that will take on the establishment. He’s takes risks and doesn’t care what others think. He does what he thinks is right regardless of the backlash. He’s brought up issues that no one was talking about before he ran for president. I think he understands the mood of the country and knows how much he can push the limits. Why would he do that if he’s a puppet for the deep state? Am I totally fooled?
I agree that the real problem is the political system that gets the nation distracted on party A or party B, but I don’t see signs that Trump is part of deep state. Rather, it looks like a final Hail Mary from the deep state to take Trump down at any costs.
How am I not awake in terms of Trump?
I thought at one time, yeah, go get em Trump! He’s an Reality TV actor. Some backroom meeting: “Why don’t we argue with the press like no other prez has, Fox news on one side, CNN on the other. Keep everyone divided and keep the focus from the real issues.
It’s a perfect plan really. Watch what he does, not what he says. Fauci, really? Trust the plan? Lock her up? He is there to placate the right, cause he’s “one of us”, “Trumps our guy”.
No one gets to be prez, they are placed there. The right was getting restless under Obama. How best to implement Marshall law? Would the right stand for it under Killary?
The left is enraged cause Trump stole the election Russian Collusion et al.
The right is enraged cause Russian collusion, Impeach gate, et al.
See how that works?
“If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.” – Mark Twain
https://theconsciousresistance.com/epsteins-first-victim-names-names-trump-clinton-rothschild/
What is your point? “The real problem is the political system” may be true, but “the political system” is not going away. If it did go away, it would be replaced by another “political system” that would become equally as corrupt as the one we have now. We have always had political systems and and we always will. Cynical defeatist rants are not helpful. We need to win the fight that we are in. After our side wins, then we can work on improving the political system. If the other side wins, things will get much worse.
Thanks for the laugh.
We need to win the fight that we are in. After our side wins, then we can work on improving the political system.
How many times have I heard that over the last many decades? Has voting in a new scumbag ever changed anything for the better?
“No matter who you voted for, the government always got elected!” – Anonymous
There is no our side and their side. There only is one side and that is the gov’t itself. Voting is a distraction to keep the weak of mind busy not realizing that the gov’t always preys upon them.
“Voting, the be all and end all of modern democratic politicians, has become a farce, if indeed it was ever anything else. By voting, the people decide only which of the oligarchs preselected for them as viable candidates will wield the whip used to flog them and will command the legion of willing accomplices and anointed lickspittles who perpetrate the countless violations of the people’s natural rights. Meanwhile, the masters soothe the masses by assuring them night and day that they — the plundered and bullied multitudes who compose the electorate — are themselves the government.” – Robert Higgs
You, the stupid voter, are my real problem because you provide the legitimacy to the criminal enterprise which is the Fed Gov.
“Government as we now know it in the USA and other economically advanced countries is so manifestly horrifying, so corrupt, counterproductive, and outright vicious, that one might well wonder how it continues to enjoy so much popular legitimacy and to be perceived so widely as not only tolerable but indispensable. The answer, in overwhelming part, may be reduced to a two-part formula: bribes and bamboozlement (classically “bread and circuses”). Under the former rubric falls the vast array of government “benefits” and goodies of all sorts, from corporate subsidies and privileges to professional grants and contracts to welfare payments and health care for low-income people and other members of the lumpenproletariat. Under the latter rubric fall such measures as the government schools, the government’s lapdog news media, and the government’s collaboration with the producers of professional sporting events and Hollywood films. Seen as a semi-integrated whole, these measures give current governments a strong hold on the public’s allegiance and instill in the masses and the elites alike a deep fear of anything that seriously threatens the status quo.” – Robert Higgs
Sounds like you’ve given up, or in. What’s the solution, Solutions?
There is no solution, only four cycles. It was fixed for one maybe one and half cycles in 1775-1885. It will be fixed for maybe for one or two cycles from 2020-2030 the same way.
“What country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms. the remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. what signify a few lives lost in a century or two? the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. it is it’s natural manure.”
-Thomas Jefferson
Hey SaO, you mention sides. I have to ask what side are you on? Just whom do you want as a leader for this country? Or are you one of those folks that think total anarchy is the answer?
I’m on my side and on the side of those decent people working for a living and minding their own business. I’m anti the political class, the murderers in the military and police that shield them and the millions of dirtbags drawing welfare as opposed to working.
Your use of the phrase ‘total anarchy’ gives you away as someone that hasn’t a clue about what an anarchic state would entail.
Yes I’m an anarchist; rules but no rulers.
“The government enforces a monopoly over the production and distribution of its alleged ‘services’ and brings violence to bear against would-be competitors. In so doing, it reveals the fraud at the heart of its impudent claims and gives sufficient proof that it is not a genuine protector, but a mere protection racket.” – Robert Higgs
“People and their values are almost infinitely diverse, and people will never agree on many elements of social arrangements that might be subjected to uniform rules of governance. Hence, the greater the scope of strictly individual self-determination, the lesser the scope of governance, and the greater the tolerance with which people live and let live among their fellows, the more peaceful and flourishing society will be.” – Robert Higgs
So let me get this correct. You are one of the scorned individuals, that backed the kent state flower children, that had its socialist vision stomped on. You cut and run and now are crying in your veggie drink about loosing to an old blond haired white guy that acts like dork and plays chess and head games better than you. I got It! I apologize I forgot to mention you also support bigotry along with you imagined claim to be an anarchist.
I suspect that you making stuff up gives you some feeling of relevance. Posting your nonsense about me personally is what you do best.
You and Trump share at least one common characteristic – both lying assholes.
I am simply responding to your post with my opinion. You did say that you were a live and let live mind your own business type individual, did you not? A person that believes, as you put it, “Yes I’m an anarchist; rules but no rulers”.
Is Cthulhu available ?
Federal government is too big to be reformed . Like the Roman Empire, it is a behemoth set in motion by it’s own massive weight, thus can only be stopped when it looses sufficient mass, which can only be achieved by the inevitable collapse of the entire top heavy edifice.
It’s no longer a matter of if, but when.
Indeed. Not to mention the fact that there is no historical precedent for true reform of a superpower.
The is no “Our Side”
I thought at one time, yeah, go get em Trump! He’s an Reality TV actor. Some backroom meeting: “Why don’t we argue with the press like no other prez has, Fox news on one side, CNN on the other. Keep everyone divided and keep the focus from the real issues.
It’s a perfect plan really. Watch what he does, not what he says. Fauci, really? Trust the plan? Lock her up? He is there to placate the right, cause he’s “one of us”, “Trumps our guy”.
No one gets to be prez, they are placed there. The right was getting restless under Obama. How best to implement Marshall law? Would the right stand for it under Killary?
The left is enraged cause Trump stole the election Russian Collusion et al.
The right is enraged cause Russian collusion, Impeach gate, et al.
See how that works?
“If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.” – Mark Twain
https://theconsciousresistance.com/epsteins-first-victim-names-names-trump-clinton-rothschild/
Lurker.
Exactly. trump was Hopium Opium for the right. We were one nerve ending away from revolting and spoiling the party when He came roaring on the scene. I said 3 years ago “Who better than Trump to usher in martial law?” Must have set a record with down votes. 3 years 1 month later we have martial law. It would not have been worse under Killary because the Republicrats would not have given up the house and we would have the same kabuki we had before except Russiagate would be focused on Billary and Monica would be staying in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Death by statistics.
Thanks Pat.
It shocking how little attention is paid the 1900-1912 timeframe.
That’s when the original Blue Wave struck America, with predictable results.
FDR’s New Deal extended a serious recession and turned it into the Great Depression. Only the federal government grew during his terms in office and we all know that government does not produce anything.
Covid 19 has not killed 61,500 Americans in two months . We may never know the true numbers, but most certainly the “official ” number is a damn lie .
The vermin , including Fauci, who work for the various government sponsored labs , such as the NIH and the CDC, ect., also privately patent their own snake oil and work hand in glove with big pharma. They like t call this a public private partnership, but actually is is an incestuousness relationship deigned to use government clout to force their deadly vaccinations on the American public and they all have become fabulously wealthy becasue the Federal government is a criminal enterprise too.
CDC’s Numbers Destroyed by Citizen Journaiist, Wow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cby3H1lpNsg
If you’ve the time, watch this. Mikovits is as crazy as a shithouse rat. Nevertheless, because she doesn’t want to see people murdered by vaccines, she becomes a truth teller. And, I think , because she had become very wealthy, she thought she was untouchable. But, by now we all know that the criminal controlled FBI needs no evidence to ruin you life. Long story short , she was forced into a 10 million dollar bankruptcy. Wild story from brilliantly crazy lady. Worth a watch.
Former AIDS Scientist Exposes Dr. Fauci’s Medical Corruption
Dr Judy A Mikovits PHD has a virtual sit-down with Patrick Bet-David and opens up about her fallout with Anthony Fauci that led to her 5 year arrest and whistleblower status
https://youtu.be/kgnBldI7KPY
There are at least nine western European countries with a higher death rate from COVID than the US. Trump probably won’t be held responsible when all those Western European countries that are supposed to be Shangri La have had it worse. His problem is that infections may abate over the summer due to heat, humidity and sunshine but come back stronger in the fall. He better hope they start croaking after Election Day.
We could also consider just preemptively bumping off anyone born before, say, 1943. That would take care of Biden.
“His problem is is that infections may abate…..”
His bigger challenge is acknowledging that he fell for the hoax by shutting everything down especially going into an election with lackluster “recovery” at best.
If the Democrats control Congress for the next 50 years , they will change the name. It will become the Supreme Soviet..
Let’s see, my choices for leading us out of this mess are a Billionaire on whom nobody has been able to lay a glove or Joe Biden a documented demented pervert. Boy that’s a tough one. The differences in Hoover administration and Trumps could not be more profound. History does not repeat itself, that’s a fact. What about all of the history that did not repeat itself which is far and away the 99.999+% majority of events? Trump takes it in a walk and our only threat is the cheating we will see from the Democrats. Same with the house and senate.
Yeah but Biden’s not really the candidate. They’re really going with no candidate at all. They could just have Biden’s disembodied head in a jar with a recording of him just saying “C’mon, man! Let’s do push-ups. It’s go time!”. Anyone voting for Biden is assenting to being ruled by some unnamed cabal of democrat apparatchiks. I’m not sure how different that is from having President Kushner.
Amen to that Pylot. What do we have to loose by putting Trump in for a second term? The people can always elect a socialist, communist, king or queen after Trump. Hell if Trump is such an incompetent President then just think of how easy it will be for a socialist/democrat to look good in the year 2024.