It's getting very Herbert Hoover up in here.

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 11:11:39 AM EST

On the heels of Deciminyan's very interesting challenge to Minority Leader Asm Alex DeCroce ...

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce had a talk with business leaders yesterday and all by himself walked us all back 80 years to the rigid 'conservatism' of Herbert Hoover, who refused to provide relief during the Depression when people were living on the knife edge. Pandering to wallet-protective business folk, DeCroce told them New Jerseyans collecting $550 a week in unemployment insurance have little incentive to look for a job.

Bear in mind this is the GOP Minority Leader in New Jersey's Assembly. Message man for his Party. Colleague of a governor who protected tax breaks for millionaires, with DeCroce's help. But I guess I shouldn't say DeCroce walked us all back to Herbert Hoover all by himself, because it seems that crap's all the rage with America's fool right.

Stephen Budiansky does a great job of rounding up this year's de rigueur GOP dismissal of the needs of the unemployed in his Liberal Curmudgeon Blog:

Today's Republicans have done a remarkable job of trying to sound like the heartless Herbert Hoover. It can't be because it's good politics; it must be because they can't help themselves. A whole line of GOP candidates have been insisting this year, for example, that unemployment is the product of lazy workers. Rep. Steve King of Iowa explained that he was against extending unemployment benefits because "we shouldn't turn the 'safety net' into a hammock." Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Republican whip, said that "continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work." And Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota denounced aid to the states to prevent hundreds of thousands of teachers from being laid off as a "bailout," as did the House minority leader and Speaker apparent John Boehner.

If things get bad for any of you unemployed slackers, and you start remembering your history lessons of Hoovervilles, security around Gov. Christie's house in Mendham's pretty tight, but Alex DeCroce lives in Parsippany-Troy Hills, and his front lawn might have room for some tents. End snark.

Rosi Efthim :: It's getting very Herbert Hoover up in here.

Tags: Herbert hoover, Alex DeCroce, WTF, asshat, unemployment, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

It's getting very Herbert Hoover up in here. | 4 comments

I don't think it's fair (0.00 / 0)

to say Hoover did nothing. He invested in infrastructure. Sort of like another President I know of. He also deported a half million Mexican workers to defend American jobs (which didn't exist). And he signed the Smoot-Hawley Tarriff that launched a trade war. We'd have been better off if he did nothing.

by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 16:36:32 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Quit picking on Hoover (4.00 / 1)

He had his faults, but so did every other politician in those days.

You're right about infrastructure (Hoover Dam, etc.). Hoover sponsored a "stimulus" program of direct federal investment in infrastructure and improvements. Unlike Obama, however, Hoover sought to pay for this spending by increasing taxes, especially on the wealthy, rather than increasing public debt. Hoover was no Keynesian, and his policy of raising taxes, including the wealthy, in the middle of a depression only exacerbated the problem.

Otherwise, though Hoover did oppose direct payments to the unemployed, he supported many progressive initiatives to restore the economy. Many of the programs proposed by Hoover were later adopted and expanded under the New Deal. Ironically, however, it was FDR who attacked Hoover in the 1932 campaign for reckless spending and not balancing the budget.

On another note, Hoover was responsible for the largest relief program up to that time, providing massive amounts of food aid to Europe during and after WWI.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 19:17:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

At least (0.00 / 0)

Hoover cared at a personal level. There are several stories of him sending families money directly from his own pocket. Unfortunately he lived in a bubble and never understood how big the problem really was.

by: Thurman Hart @ Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 19:21:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]