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| Source: AZ Quotes- Theodore Roosevelt: talking about what he called The New Nationalism. |
"This is not the speech of a conservative republican. In this speech, Theodore Roosevelt lays out plenty of the progressive agenda, which we are stuck with today. The text of the speech can be found here: Teaching American History
From Progressing America
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| Source: Progressing America- Theodore Roosevelt: talking about what he called The New Nationalism. |
What Theodore Roosevelt was advocating for in what he called The New Nationalism, was what became The New Deal in the 1930s. Which is what became the American safety net. Progressives don’t believe in blowing up capitalism, they simply want to make it better so it benefits more Americans. Unlike Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debbs who also ran for President in 1912 and Senator Bernie Sanders and other Socialists (whether they call themselves Socialists or not) today.
Teddy Roosevelt’s New Nationalism was the political platform that he and his Progressive Party ran on in 1912.
Unemployment Insurance for American workers who are unemployed.
A minimum wage for all workers.
A national pension system for all workers that they could collect from when they retire.
A national health care program that would cover both health care and health insurance for Americans.
Most of these proposed programs became part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal agenda in the 1930s. Pre-safety net in America if Americans fell on hard times, they either had to take care of their problems themselves, or get friends or family to help them out, or rely on private charity. If they still couldn’t get their issues taken care of, then they were essentially screwed, or out of luck. (If you want a softer term)
What became the New Deal in the 1930s and then later the Great Society in 1960s, did was to guarantee financial help and assistance for any American who fell on hard times and needed financial assistance in form form. Neither Teddy or Frank Roosevelt, wanted to blow up the American capitalist system and replace it with a socialist system. But instead make American capitalism better and make it work for more Americans.
