Discussion
qwet1234
needtoresponse.docx
Milkis on Roosevelt, the Constitutional Order, and Presidential Leadership
How successful was Roosevelt in this attempted transformation? What was the longer term impact of this effort?
Roosevelt’s legacy of transformational leadership and achievements is undisputed. Achieving organizational success and particularly that of an entire country, Milkis (2002) tells us, is a complex process, this is like trying to make changes to the wheels of a bicycle while at the same time trying to ride it. At some point, there is the need to taking the whole organization apart and putting it back together using a new approach. This should happen while the business of the day is on course. Roosevelt is noted to have speared the development and implementation of some of the most effectual transformation in the country. Roosevelt achieved this through the fierceness of his personality and radical aggressive executive powers. He is commonly referred to as the first modern president of the modern United States having inspired the structures and influence that is evident to this day.
The New Deal
Arguably, the president was empathetic and expanded the governments reach to more scope of human, cultural and socioeconomic lives. The new deal, in an ideal sense, helped develop the type of socio-economic reforms that was familiar to other European nations for decades. The new deal was a mix of culminated long-term range trends towards the abolition of “laissez-fair” capitalism. Some of the highlights of the New Deal was the promptness with which it helped accomplish what had previously taken a considerably longer time. Consequently, the new deal helped improved the lives of the people that suffered from the implications of the Great Depression. This included the support of the social security programs that workers and employees enjoyed after their retirement. In the long-run, the New Neal programs helped set a precedence for the federal government to take key roles in the socioeconomic affairs of the nation.
Reference
Milkis, S. M. (2002). Franklin D. Roosevelt, the economic constitutional order, and the new
politics of presidential leadership. The New Deal and the triumph of liberalism, 31-72.
Hacker and Pierson on Business Power, the New Deal, and Social Security
4.Does the possibility that business interests were politically weak in the 1930s mean that they had no impact on New Deal Policies?
In the 1930s, American capitalism was practically heading to a downfall. For more than ten years, the America`s free market economy was barely operating at its optimum that allowed most American businesses to achieve economic success. At this time, business interests were politically weak in the 1930s. The new deal addressed the issues of social political and economic crisis. However, businesses were unable to make a significant impact on the new deal policy frameworks.
Was the new deal about a shift in class politics with mobilized workers gaining more influence?
The New Deal represented a series of programs and reforms that changed American politics. This attracted the contribution of various players in the sectors to help respond to the various needs for recovery, reforms and relief from the Great Depression. The political class was more concerned about the interest of the people, providing support for both the employed and the employed. Particularly, the second New Deal in the 1930s lead to the development of National Labor Laws that protected the labor organizations (Hacker and Pierson, 2002). The new labor reforms and empowerments further aided migrant workers and tenant farmers. The labor movements approached politics in a new and vibrant approach.
Are there reasons the political power of business might have a resurgence after the 1930s?
The economic downfall and the inactivity of the business communities compelled them to realize new approaches and ways that would protect them from a reaped of the events in 1930s and earlier. This meant that the business community and economic instruments to mobilize themselves and form labor unions and radical institutions that will represent them in political spheres. Through this, the business community can be on the forefront to the development of policies and laws that affected these businesses. This has been evident in the key role that businesses have been taking on the political space, with some representatives being drawn from the business community.
Reference
Hacker, J. S., & Pierson, P. (2002). Business power and social policy: employers and the
formation of the American welfare state. Politics & Society, 30(2), 277-325.
