He created the massive debt we live with today.
2007-01-18 17:50:41 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Actually the debt was started during the War of 1812. FDR does have the ill fortune of being known as the man who led this country running towards socialism with his "New Deal;" good by individual freedoms and hello welfare state, thanks Frank.
2007-01-18 17:58:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
He also brought the United States out of the worst depression the country has ever known. Some of that debt was made to defend democracy as we know it, and abuse it, today. While I have never known the misery of something like the great depression, my parents did. Let's give FDR a break, he did a lot of good for this country. Good that Carter made a mockery of.
2007-01-19 01:59:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Don't know why. Carter only had 1 term. But most of the debt has been added since 1980. It was a high % of GDP during WW II, but still under $1 trillion, even in 1980.
2007-01-19 02:19:08 · answer #3 · answered by Eric 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ah. You need to study FDR more. Yes, he created this American form of socialism. But what he avoided was a full conversion to communism. In that time, democracy itself was at 1 minute to midnight. It was far better than the alternative.
However, truly the worst president is and will be for hundreds of years, is gwbush. No other had such malice, incompitence, and ignorance.
Carter is not even close to the worst. During his term the debt per GDP (GNP then) was decreasing (but reversed under Reagen). He also got egypt to recognize isreal... such an accomplishment.
2007-01-19 02:07:32 · answer #4 · answered by g g 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I think that would be Ronald Reagan.He DOUBLED the national debt, meaning he was as bad at managing money as all the president's before him, including FDR. Roosevelt saved this country from ruin and starvation. Carter was a buffoon, and still is.
2007-01-19 02:07:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
If your looking at the worst president, your looking to far back. Sure he thought he was great with his budgets etc. but how did he do it? He cut our national defense. Even with the bombing of the US embassy, the bombing of the USS Cole, the first bombing of the World Trade Center and his knowledge of UBL and the terrorist threats, his only concern was how to make himself look good on the debt instead of the safety of the US. His whole presidency was just one big poorly written, scandal-ridden soap opera. The Clintons even tried to walk off with some of the White House furnishings when they left. Mistakes have been made by many presidents, but Clinton was a disgrace to the office.
2007-01-19 03:18:45 · answer #6 · answered by DixeVil 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The only reason Carter didn't turn the US into Northern Mexico is he couldn't get reelected. He was worse than FDR by a wide margin.
Re: FDR: Yes, he officially started the welfare state. However, he can't be blamed for Medicare, and the Social Security program as originally constituted was not nearly the Leviathan that it is today. Plus, I think he was pretty good as Commander-In-Chief. Please, however, do not give him credit for ending the Great Depression. More than six years into the New Deal it was still as bad as ever. Like all depressions, the problem was monetary policy, and the solution was monetary policy.
Carter did nothing right, he started us down a disastrous path in the Middle East, he sat and watched as the USSR did as it pleased, and he is STILL out in the world acting important and doing damage to the US. His one redeeming quality: the appointment of Paul Volcker.
2007-01-19 01:59:55 · answer #7 · answered by sargon 3 · 2⤊ 5⤋
You are so wrong about that . Go read The Alleged Budget Surplus , Social Security & Voodoo Economics : by Allen W. sMITH, pH.d. You can also go to http://www.ironwoodpublications.com or http://www.uncesamsdebt.com
Bush has used the surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund to finance a tax cut for the wealthy and for increased government spending . Check it out .
2007-01-19 02:16:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If FDR was as antisemitic as Carter he wouldn't have so rudely interrupted Hitler from his work.
2007-01-19 03:11:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To say FDR created the debt we live with today is ludicrous. Presidents like Bush are the ones bankrupting the social security system, they rob it to pay for their wars and other spendthrift policies.
2007-01-19 02:00:35 · answer #10 · answered by wisdomforfools 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋