Libertas1776's Journal - Can we please enact FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights!!! (Lost Footage Found By Michael Moore!)

In 1944, an ill President Roosevelt(just about a year before his death), the war having taken its toll, addressed Congress in his 11th State of the Union message. At one point, FDR proposed a 2nd Bill of Rights, so to speak, that would cover American's rights where the The Bill of Rights had left off, or covered insufficiently. Of course, he did not intend for a change in the US Constitution, but rather these implementations would be enacted "politically" through legislative change.

Here is perhaps the most poignant message of the speech, as an introduction to his proposed bill of rights "addendum"...

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

Here are the rights that would compose this new proposition (The one's that I feel most important, I have highlighted)

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_o...

I am mentioning this subject because, although it has already been mentioned time and time again here on DU, it will soon have much much more prominence given the fact that long thought to be lost, if not even existent, newsreel footage of FDR proposing this bill or rights has been found. And who found it you may ask? Well...

That's right, Michael Moore, and he includes this footage in his upcoming movie "Capitalism: A Love Story." http://www.7x7.com/blogs/screen-shots/mich...
I, for one, am ecstatic, being a bit of a history buff and an admirer of FDR. When FDR gave his speech to Congress, he was too ill and the address had to be broadcast from the White House to Congress and the Nation. However, he did request for newsreel reporters to film an entire piece of him proposing his 2nd Bill of Rights. So important was this proposition to FDR, he allowed himself to be filmed and recorded for this excerpt of his State of the Union, in spite of his illness.

I can't help but think of all the times this country has been robbed of the opportunity of real change, throughout its history. To name a few: There was Lincoln. Had he not been shot by Booth, things would have probably been a hell of a lot better for both black people and white people, especially in the South. There was also, of course, FDR. Had he not died when he did, he would have the clout of 3 terms and victorious leadership in a world war to push through his 2nd bill of rights, which included universal health care for all Americans. Had Bobby Kennedy not been assassinated, who knows what kind of change this country would have experienced through his presidency.

Instead, these opportunities for change have been railroaded and dumped to the wayside with the rise of corporate interests in the past 60 years. I would hope that this newsreel will be used to its utmost, spread throughout this country, through all kinds of outlets.

Maybe, just maybe, we can re-invigorate the message of change and opportunity, of universal health care, a living wage, an education, and true, fair capitalism, free of corporate abuse and dominance, once proposed by a dying President, and see his last great legislative "hurrah" for the American people fulfilled. It's been 65 years; I think we are well overdue.