This is a great post, especially IMO, this part of the quote: “The criteria which you then apply to government are whether it is producing a certain minimum of health, of decent housing, of material necessities, of education, of freedom, of pleasures, of beauty,...”
The Founders doubtlessly wanted all those good things for the greater concept of the nation, but thought producing them was the task of a free people; in 1787, the notion of government producing anything would have been alien and risible to all, except perhaps Hamilton. The Revolution had rejected a government that violated the British Constitution by dabbling in arbitrary expropriation. The Founders wished to unleash self-interested individuals to produce all needful things, through a government designed to debar arbitrary expropriation (a “charter of negative liberties” as Mr. Obama would say). They also recognized that the vote must be limited to those possessed of sufficient property and wealth to responsibly tax themselves for socially necessary expenses (those without means to pay taxes should have no voice in taxing someone else or setting policy that incurs costs). Subsequent expansion of the franchise was fatal to this concept, as Franklin, et al., knew it would be.
Progressives seek expropriation by government, levelling down, and the coerced conformity of unfree individuals to the dictat of a self-imposed elite, elected by dependent, irresponsible masses. How anyone can support this is beyond comprehension.
In 1932 and 1933, sure. Just about everybody was (though Lippmann had been an Al Smith supporter early on).
Lippmann had a falling out with Roosevelt later and voted for Landon in 1936 (and most likely also Willkie in 1940).
Lippmann was a complicated figure whose views changed over the years.
Progressives know better than we do, especially when they control the levers of power.
Obama&Co are proof of in their minds.
Sometime confusion can’t be cured.