What parallels did you see between the time period covered in the book and our own - socially, economically or politically?
Socially: Discrimination - check
Economically: Poverty, Homelessness, Unemployment - check
Politically: Mistrust of government - check
The question is like the proverbial can of worms! I could go on but won’t. I’m eager to hear other opinions.
But I’m also open (and hopeful) to decent, responsible and thoughtful programs or ways to help those in need. Perkins held to this tenet.
The social, economic and political woes continue to this day. Unfortunately, I fear with the current leadership in Washington these issues will only get worse. There seems to be no interest in helping people. Perhaps, in the past, things got out of hand as far as giving away money, but now it’s the exact opposite. The only people getting help are those that don’t need it, those with money and power. I think it’s going to be up to private industry and public charity, not government, to help people who are truly in need. I don’t know politically we will ever recover; we are too polarized and too hateful. We will never be the nation we were. Economically, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. Really depressing. I’m glad I’m old!
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Heavens to Betsy YES with capitals! There is Discrimination especially for women, poverty, homelessness, soon to be massive unemployment if our current administration continues on its current road and last but not least the mistrust of government. I am afraid I am not leaving my children and grand child a better world than I have experience.
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I think everyone has it covered. It was painful and depressing at times to read the book and see what is happening in our own country. Then to realize we don’t have an FDR or even a competent cabinet. We have a con man, criminal, Russian asset in the highest most powerful office in the land. We’ve lost our allies and are now in league with nations ruled by dictators. The obvious goal is to destroy America from the inside out so that we are defenseless against enemies both foreign and domestic and destroy our democracy and with our spineless traitorous politicians it’s a cake walk .
I felt that with some of the comments and incidents in the book that I could have been reading about today. Perkins fight for social security was a prime example. She had to work to convince Congress and she had to come up with a bill that couldn’t be thrown out in court. Also, the comments about a democratic government toward the end of the book resonated with me.
So many examples…distrust of government, economic issues, poverty, fear…
There was quite a push for fascist government in the late 1930’s, and there
is today. Social Security is at ‘risk’ today, and has been a lifesaver for millions
of people since it’s inception (thanks to F. Perkins).