“...was implement by the Greatest Generation, in the years from about 1960 until about 1992.”
My Dad (RIP) hated FDR and Kennedy - I never understood that as a kid.
My Mom (91 this year) doesn’t have cable so still gets her news from ABC or whatever. She commented that “Well, I didn’t vote for him, but the New Deal got us out of the Great Depression, so I think Obama’s New Deal will work too.” As an adult - I don’t understand that! I gently try to inform her about the realities of the New Deal and FDR - but to so many of that era he is viewed as a savior.
Those New Deal programs did help some destitute individuals and did provide some public works programs that benefited specific communities. That probably looked like improvement to many, but such government spending just does not revive an economy in recession or depression. We recently saw the quotes (during the stimulus debates) from Roosevelt era officials acknowledging that the programs did not end the GD.
It might not be worth it to try and convince your mother of that, or most who actually experienced those times.
Re: “............My Dad (RIP) hated FDR and Kennedy - I never understood that as a kid..............”
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Mine too— actually both parents (RIP) grew up Republican and had lots to say about what transpired over time. They reserved their biggest ‘hate’ for FDR, however. They insisted until their dying days that the New Deal was a BAD deal for the US and would impact it negatively forever.
BTW, my father was also vehemently against any thoughts of Colin Powell running for POTUS, decades ago when that was first discussed, claiming he was NOT presidential material. And it wasn’t about race — NOW I understand what my dad was talking about. At the time I foolishly thought Powell would be just fine.
I refuse to blame any generational group as a whole for our troubles — this ‘blame must always be assigned’ garbage has got to go.