American Attractive Proposal

American Attractive Proposal

The Great Depression created a difficult economic period for Americans, and the government had to come up with a plan to help the poor. In order to solve the challenges facing the poor in society, Franklin D. Roosevelt devised the New Deal program. Its focus was on reducing unemployment and poverty, reforming the banking system, and restoring the economy to pre-crisis levels. In spite of the well-thought-out design of the project, many members of society attacked it strongly. Sinclair, Townsend, and Long were among the critics. In the end, they came up with solutions that were more acceptable to Americans who wanted more help for the needy. For some reason, Americans were drawn to the suggestions of these three men. 

To challenge the President's proposal, which Long viewed as insufficient for the poor, Long Huey created the "Share Our Wealth" campaign with the motto "Every Man a King." Everyone with a fortune of more than $1 million is required to pay 100% of the tax by the organization (Long, 1935). As a result of the program, poor people were promised a minimum of $5000 from the inheritance and a minimum of $2500 every year. Long also advocated for an old social security pension. People assumed he was constructing bridges and roads for the community's poorest members in order for them to live comfortably. Because of the promises he made to Americans, his programs were more enticing to them than Roosevelt's. The town's destitute residents felt that Long's promises would decrease the gap between rich and poor, and the elderly would no longer have to suffer as they had in the past (Long, 1935). According to this philosophy, everyone over the age of sixty should retire from whatever occupation they had to offer younger members of society more opportunities. Rather than leave the retirees without a source of income, they would be paid $200 per month, which was a decent sum during the Great Depression (Townsend, 1934). Americans were looking up to the promises made by their leaders during the depression, which made Long's ideas appealing because they arrived at a time when they were needed. Retirement pensions would also be paid out to elderly people after a long period of hard work. Additionally, pensioners are expected to agree to spend their pension assets within a month, which sounds appealing because it will revive the economy in a short period (Townsend, 1934). 

Francis Townsend, on the other hand, made proposals that were acceptable to the impoverished in the United States. He proposed the Old Age Revolving Pension, also known colloquially as the "Old Age Revolving Pension." According to this philosophy, everyone over 60 years should retire from his or her occupation so that young people have more opportunities. Retirement-age citizens would not be left without a source of income; rather, they would receive $200 a month, which was a decent amount during the Great Depression (Townsend, 1934). Sinclair was also an outspoken critic of the New Deal. He called for the state to seize any factories that did not pay their property taxes. This means that the idea would require all factories to pay property taxes or risk being taken over by the government, which would be an excellent way to stimulate the economy by producing income. He also campaigned for a pension for the elderly. Sinclair also suggested raising the federal income tax rate (Sinclair, 1934). The concept of the government taking over manufacturing seemed fantastic because it would generate work for more people in society. In other words, the project was viable since it would assist to reinvigorate the economy by producing more jobs. The ideas that Sinclair advocated were broadcast on a national and local scale even though he did not win the governorship election. Americans were attracted to his ideas because they provided a path to more jobs and funding to help the economy recover. 

The recommendations of Long, Sinclair, and Townsend were well received by the public. People yearned for a shift that would help them get out of the Great Depression. Reforms in the agricultural, industrial, and financial sectors of the United States were required to impact good change. Americans aspire to reforms that will improve their economic situation. With the Great Depression, unemployment rates rose, and the economy needed to be boosted. As a result, the suggestions acquire traction (Weinstein, 2017). In order to revitalize the economy, Roosevelt's New Deal encouraged consumer demand. Sinclair, on the other hand, opposes the president's new accords and instead advises the public on their proposition. On the "fireside chat" radio station, Roosevelt answers the recommendations. President Roosevelt responded by informing the public that individuals suggesting alternative reforms are attempting to preserve personal interests by simplifying a theoretical and difficult idea. 

Furthermore, congress replied to Long, Sinclair, and Townsend's proposal. Congress demanded that the administration follow the constitution and that the powers granted to it be respected. For example, the plan appears impractical because the constitution requires that private property be respected. The right to own property should belong to the individual, and no government element should be used to unlawfully take possession of the property. 

Despite this, popular opinion favors Long, Townsend, and Sinclair's suggestions. The recommendations are seen by Americans as a solution to their problems caused by the Great Depression (Brinkley, 2020). The measures may, in theory, solve the issue of unemployment, which has affected a bigger population. Although some of the measures appear to be unrealistic, the political and conservative classes needed to persuade the public to vote in their favor. The public believes that these men are the answer to America's ailing economy. In conclusion, the New Deal, initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, helps to ease the American Great Depression. The government seeks to provide jobs to the growing unemployed population through public acts. The country's new deal program focuses on the country's social and economic problems. President Roosevelt's policies dramatically altered the political landscape of the United States. Despite its flaws, the new accord had an impact when the country was in the midst of its worst economic crisis.

References 

Long, H. P. (1935). Share Our Wealth. Solar Age Press. Sinclair, U. (1934). End Poverty in California: The EPIC Movement. Literary Digest, 13. 

Townsend, F. E. (1934). Old age revolving pensions. 

Weinstein, A. Q. (2017). Onward Townsend Soldiers: Moral Politics and Civil Religion in the Townsend Crusade. American Political Thought, 6(2), 228-255. 

Brinkley, A. (2020). 4 The New Deal and the Idea of the State. In The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order, 1930-1980 (pp. 85-121). Princeton University Press.