which is the bigger blunder, the new deal or the iraq war?

Question

Think of the future consequences of both!

Don't kid yourselves. The new deal occupied the country during the great depression, but did nothing to end it. Also important is the birth of social security under the new deal...

Answer 1

The New Deal.

Although the Iraq War has been very costly in both blood and treasure, it will probably be a historical anomaly. That is, once we get out of there (as victors or as failures), we won't really feel any continuing effects. Once the war is over, it's over.

The New Deal was also very costly, but that's hard for many people to realize. We can read about the men who were employed on public works projects or about the electricity produced by the TVA. The costs are less obvious though; we don't readily see the economic distortions caused by price manipulation or the consider the tremendous waste from farm subsidies and restrictions.

But more important than the immediate, economic cost was the philosophical damage caused by the New Deal. The New Deal radically and perhaps irreversibly altered America's beliefs about government. It was the final blow to the idea of limited, Constitutionally restrained government. It opened the floodgates of government expansion and intrusion into our lives.

For example, the rulings which prohibited states from decriminalizing drugs were grounded in rulings which supported increased Federal power during the New Deal.

Answer 2

Let's see, the New Deal pulled the country through the Great Depression and has no measurable 'future consequences".

Invading Iraq may turn out to be the single most damaging action ever taken by an American President and Congress.

That's a toss-up alright.

Answer 3

The Iraq war is by far the biggest blunder.

At least the new Deal was to help out people in time of great need here in the US, not in the middle east. There was a depression at the time you know.

Some of those programs led to some pretty decent results (e.g. Hoover Dam).

Problem is, many New Deal types of things didn't go away.

We're burning hundres of billions of dollars in Iraq and we'll never see ANY benefit from that.

Answer 4

well... I didn't see any Republicans with any ideas on how to get out of the depression... yet, it worked... but, I guess you didn't mind the depression... right?

so I would say the Iraq war BY FAR... since one was a plan that worked and the other was an... well idea, using the word idea lightly, that is clearly failing...

this question is like asking "what's worse... ending slavery or the nazi Holocaust?"... you may have problems with that one too though...

Answer 5

It may have done nothing like you say. But, it gave millions of people HOPE fr a better life and future. It left the perception of a caring government for those who, because of no fault of thier own, fell upon hard times. Tell me, does this Iraq give the Americian people hope? Not

Answer 6

Now that is what I call extreme. Comparing the greatest single thing our government did for the good of the people and the country, to the liberation/war on terrorism in Iraq. Now that is warped. You should win some kind of award for that question.

Answer 7

The New Deal. It got Government involved in areas it should not be and it has gone so far that it cannot be reversed. Compared to that the Iraq War is just a miscalculation.

Answer 8

The New Deal? A blunder?

Answer 9

How was the new deal bad in any way..? It created jobs, stimulated the economy, kept people from starving, and unified the nation.

Answer 10

The New Deal. At least the Iraq War is beneficial to people