The Best and Worst of the Presidency

[JonLanceBarker]

What'd Herbert Hoover do besides be inaugurated at a very inconvenient time?

Could you tell me what he did to combat the Depression...besides nothing that worked?

[TolkienFan]

Good choices JLB.

[Meta Knight]

Could you tell me what he did to combat the Depression...besides nothing that worked?

So because he was unsuccessful in ending the Depression, you call him the worst?

By that standard, FDR was much, much worse.

[JonLanceBarker]

So because he was unsuccessful in ending the Depression, you call him the worst?

By that standard, FDR was much, much worse.

I'm sorry, but you misunderstood me. I said combat the Depression. From what I understand, Hoover sat on his hands waiting for the failed market to do something. At least FDR made a huge effort to help people when the market failed.

Granted, now we've got a precedent set for tremendous national debt figures...but I doubt someone could think of a better way to spend the money.

[Meta Knight]

I'm sorry, but you misunderstood me.

Alright, my mistake, I did.

I said combat the Depression. From what I understand, Hoover sat on his hands waiting for the failed market to do something.

It seems to me he just went the free-market route. Have the government do as little as possible. It failed, but it's not like his attitude was "Pfeh, who cares?"

At least FDR made a huge effort to help people when the market failed.

Yes, and it resulted in 9 more years of Depression and a huge national debt.

For the record, I don't think Hoover was the best, or even necessarily one of the greats, but I think he ends up taking a lot of undeserved flak for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Granted, now we've got a precedent set for tremendous national debt figures...but I doubt someone could think of a better way to spend the money.

They could just not spend the money at all.


And anyway, my choices would be Lincoln for the best, and probably Harding or Grant for the worst (not exactly original, but hey, what can I say?).

[Augustine2004]

I’m appalled that nobody jumped on JLB’s choice of TR as best. He was among the worst in fact. I’m also appalled that anyone would think Hoover was pro free-market. He wasn’t that at all. In fact his efforts helped turned what was an ordinary recession into the Great Depression.

[historic salve]

I’m appalled that nobody jumped on JLB’s choice of TR as best. He was among the worst in fact. I’m also appalled that anyone would think Hoover was pro free-market. He wasn’t that at all. In fact his efforts helped turned what was an ordinary recession into the Great Depression.

He was definitely pro-free market. He didn't want the federal government "interfering" in what he saw as a state issue.

[Augustine2004]

He was definitely pro-free market. He didn't want the federal government "interfering" in what he saw as a state issue.

You surely got things wrong. If you want I can suggest history books.

[historic salve]

You surely got things wrong. If you want I can suggest history books.

How about you just tell me why I'm wrong, or do you enjoy being obtuse?

[Augustine2004]

How about you just tell me why I'm wrong, or do you enjoy being obtuse?

First of all, Hoover got himself elected just when the Roaring 20s were finally ready to end. Joking aside, here’s a list, perhaps partial, of what he did:

* He failed to jack down the tariffs.

* He failed to make wages more flexible, especially downwards. Instead he strenuously made them higher or at least held them high.

* To keep the farm bloc pacified, he allowed foreign loans be made to encourage foreign purchases of American farm products.

* He established the Federal Farm Board (note: he was actually a proto New Dealer) to raise farm prices.

* He allowed the Federal Reserve Board to run rampart (at least he should have denounced it).

• Edited by a Moderator •


To sum it up Hoover most certainly was not laissez faire.

Moderated By: Rayado

Augustine, either you are Murry Rothbard reincarnated, or you are plagiarizing, and the odds of you being Rothbard risen from the grave are slim to none.

***If you wish to take issue with this notice DO NOT do so in this thread.***
Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publically complain or whine, please take it to the Psychotherapy Room unless told otherwise.

[historic salve]

More Lew Rockwell crap, and this time you can't even CITE your source?

[Augustine2004]

More Lew Rockwell crap, and this time you can't even CITE your source?

Aren't you even going to check the primary historical sources such as speeches made by Hoover!?ETA I did fail to attribute the quotation to Murray Rothbard. AFAIK, he has yet to be REALLY refuted.

This speech by Hoover http://millercenter.org/scripps/digi...29_0304_hoover was made well before the October 1929 crash, but let me list some sentences that are not laissez faire.
*While the authority of the Federal Government extends to but part of our vast system of national, State, and local justice, yet the standards which the Federal Government establishes have the most profound influence upon the whole structure.
*Enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment [prohibition]
*I propose to appoint a national commission for a searching investigation of the whole structure of our Federal system of jurisprudence, to include the method of enforcement of the eighteenth amendment and the causes of abuse under it.
*The election has again confirmed the determination of the American people that regulation of private enterprise . . .
*The Government should assist and encourage these movements of collective self- help by itself cooperating with them. [I'm not sure, but that sounds like what a fascist would say about businesses.]
*Education [vague, but why mention this - should not at all be the business of the Federal Government]
*Public health service should be as fully organized and as universally incorporated into our governmental system as is public education.[Wow, that surely doesn't look like laissez faire.]
*. . . particularly further agricultural relief and limited changes in the tariff, cannot in justice to our farmers, our labor, and our manufacturers be postponed.[I think that confirms what Rothbard said about the tariff and aid to the farm Bloc]

I could cite more speeches, if you wish.

Another addition. It's highly significant that Hoover did not call for a return to the gold standard and the abolition of the Federal Reserve System, whose policy caused the crash in the first place. Do you understand how the FRS causes the business cycle? How the Roaring20s, well, roared?

[Mr Arkadin]

More Lew Rockwell crap, and this time you can't even CITE your source?

Why does everyone hate Lew Rockwell? If you disagree with his market anarchism then do so. However questioning the veracity of every, forwarded, fact (they may be in error) on Lew Rockwell.dom or the Mises Institute without citing any previous errors on the site shows it is not Augustine, or myself, as I identify closely with him, who are the implacable biased individuals but you, the statists.

[historic salve]

Why does everyone hate Lew Rockwell? If you disagree with his market anarchism then do so. However questioning the veracity of every, forwarded, fact (they may be in error) on Lew Rockwell.dom or the Mises Institute without citing any previous errors on the site shows it is not Augustine, or myself, as I identify closely with him, who are the implacable biased individuals but you, the statists.

I am not a statist, but I responded the way I did because he was plagiarizing from lewrockwell dot com.

[Mr Arkadin]

I am not a statist, but I responded the way I did because he was plagiarizing from lewrockwell dot com.

By plagiarizing what do you mean? Recapitulating the arguments on there? Even if he does that has nothing to do with the veracity, surely the most important thing, of the statement. Plagiarizing scriptural arguments isn' wrong, is it? Note well I am not in any way shape or form equating scripture to Lew Rockwell.

If you aren't a statist then you must be anarchist, which I am highly doubtful of.