FDR's Second Bill Of Rights Is What Electoral Politics Should Be About, Not Who The Greater Evil Is

Yesterday I mentioned I had had dinner with Stephanie Kelton the evening before. I forgot to mention a couple of things we talked about. One was FDR’s Second Bill of Rights (AKA- the economic bill of rights). She had mentioned that when Bernie first called her about what would later turn into a job as his top economic advisor, she asked her what she would do if she were him and her first response was something she teaches in his classes: FDR’s never-enacted Second Bill of Rights. In case those rights have slipped your mind since studying American history in high school, these are the rights FDR was proposing as part of his 1944 State of the Union address— and what Kelton wants to address through MMT:

• employment

• an adequate income for food, shelter and recreation

• farmers' rights to a fair income

• freedom from unfair competition and monopolies

• decent housing

• adequate medical care

• social security

• education

Here, it’s better if you listen to Roosevelt himself explain it in this 2-minute video clip from the speech.

Basically, America’s greatest president believed that the original Bill of Rights had proven inadequate to ensure equality in the pursuit of happiness, and especially in economic terms. He and his New Deal advisors were proposing this new set of rights to address social and economic issues, aiming to guarantee a certain standard of living for all Americans. Conservatives positively recoiled of course and these rights were never enacted into law. Many of them influenced— even if begrudgingly— future policy discussions about social welfare and economic justice. FDR’s (and Bernie’s) vision was that these rights would secure a decent standard of living for Americans and establish a foundation for true individual freedom, not only politically but economically.

The package of rights, though wildly popular, wasn’t enacted because FDR died soon after he introduced them, taking the kind of Democratic Party he was building to the grave with him. It wasn’t just that there was significant opposition in Congress from conservative lawmakers of both parties who opposed government intervention in the economy on behalf’s of working people. Opponents insisted that the proposed rights were socialist and infringed on individual freedoms and free market principles. Besides there was a post-war economic boom alleviating some of the immediate pressures that Roosevelt’s proposed rights aimed to address. Basically, with rising employment and economic growth, there was less perceived urgency for systemic economic reforms. 

Many people choose to forget that many of the Southern Democrats, whose support was crucial for passing legislation, were committed to racial segregation and were wary of federal programs that could disrupt the status quo. They feared that broader economic and social rights would also empower African Americans and other minority groups. After FDR’s death in 1945 the primary champion of the Second Bill of Rights was gone. Truman was more conservative and, while supportive of some New Deal principles, had his own challenges and priorities. Truman did continue to push for some progressive reforms— national health insurance and some civil rights legislation, through his "Fair Deal" program— but he faced significant opposition from a conservative Congress and was unable to achieve many of his more ambitious goals. With the election of Eisenhower in 1952, the political climate was more conservative, focusing on stability  rather than sweeping reforms. The Democratic Party began shifting into a defensive pre-FDR crouch.

The economic stagnation of the 1970s led to a reevaluation of economic policies and conservatives re-asserting their own focus: deregulation and economic inequality. By the late 1970s on, under Carter and especially Clinton, the Democratic Party increasingly adopted neoliberal economic policies, including deregulation, free trade agreements, welfare “reform,” and a general embrace of market-oriented policies. Clinton's “Third Way” politics aimed to appeal to a wealthier electorate, combining progressive social policies with more conservative economic policies. This failed approach was sold to Democrats as necessary to compete with the Republican Party's dominance in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan. More recently, the Democratic Party has continued to devolve, with centrist policies and corporate influence dominant. What we have left is something of a resurgence of progressive movements within the party, led primarily by Bernie, Pramila Jayapal, AOC, Jamie Raskin, a handful of others who advocate for policies reminiscent of FDR’s vision, such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

Dan Osborn is an independent candidate running for the Senate in Nebraska. The Democratic Party has fallen so low that they didn’t even bother nominating a candidate. FDR— and his ideas— won Nebraska in 1932 (overwhelmingly— every county but 2) and 1936 and has rejected every Democratic presidential candidate (except LBJ) since then. Osborn’s brand of people-oriented politics and his bold vision seem a lot closer to FDR’s own vision than to what we see from the sad defensive Democratic politicians in the state.

“Everywhere I go in Nebraska,’ he told me yesterday, “I hear the same theme: the consolidation of multi-national monopolies, and the crushing of small business, is a threat to our way of life. These multi-nationals are hollowing out the economy, using anti-competitive practices to obliterate the little guy and then drive up prices. The family farm, the regional firm, the independent auto repair shop: when they die, it's a devastating loss for the economy. It's terrible for consumers and workers. It devastates entire cities. In the Senate I won't let these multi-nationals write our country's laws— because unlike my opponent, I won't be cashing their PAC checks.” Want to help him fill that deficit? You can here.

I asked some of the other candidates on the Blue America Flip Congress page if they felt inspired by what FDR was trying to accomplish with the Second Bill of Rights. Derek Marshall, running in San Bernardino County for a seat held by Trumpist Jay Obernolte, told us that “We have fallen behind other countries, especially in our quality of lives. Most of us work long hours with long commutes and multiple jobs just to make ends meet. We live to work instead of working to live, which is a damn shame considering we are the richest country in the history of the world. We have government to define the rules of our lives realities and right now, those rules benefit the rich.”

Conor O’Callaghan is the progressive in the crowded race to replace MAGA Republican David Schweikert in a Maricopa County district Biden won. “FDR,” he told us, “believed in a common faith and world where men could lift each other up instead of keeping each other down. FDR's New Deal legacy and the progressive changes it brought forth are what helped make us a great country. His New Deal led to LBJ's great society, where social security was delivered for Americans. This sacred compact was built between citizens and their government. We pay into it our entire lives with the expectation that we can live comfortably in our golden years. We pay into this program with the belief that the government won't change the rules on us and hedge on its deal to give us a safe landing when we retire. Well, Democrats have consistently tried to expand and protect social security while Republicans have consistently tried to undercut it. In Congress, I will protect social security and pursue policies for revenue enhancements to strengthen the program's funding and provide stability for future generations. This is part of my commitment to helping everyone in my district realize the American Dream, something FDR would have surely appreciated.”

Eric Wilson, the progressive Democrat taking on MAGA incumbent Derrick Van Orden in a western Wisconsin swing district has a background in mortgage financing and decided to address FDR’s ideas on housing as a right. “Having shelter is literally the fundamental need in Maslow's Hierarchy,” he said. “How can we expect people to be productive or talk about anything else if they are literally just trying to find a place to stay out of the sun, rain or snow. Not only do we have a growing homeless crisis, but those that do have homes are struggling to afford them. In part because other essentials such as food are becoming more expensive and wages have fallen behind productivity since the 90's. We need to make sure that everyone, regardless of your income/background, has access to housing. This is a federal, state, and local issue that needs to be addressed. As a housing and mortgage professional, I see every day the challenges people are facing to afford a house, the American dream of homeownership is slipping away faster and faster. I want to use my background to lead the charge in fundamental changes, and make sure we have more public housing options for everyone.”

The Democrat, Jerrad Christian, taking on do-nothing Republican Troy Balderson in Ohio, noted that “The foundations laid by those who came before us— through their struggles, discoveries, and innovations— form a rich history that belongs to all of humanity, not just the privileged elite. The collective wisdom and knowledge of past generations should be accessible to every person. Education is the key that unlocks the doors to opportunities, understanding and an equitable society. When access to knowledge is limited to a select few, it creates cycles of inequality and stifles the potential of countless minds who will then be lost to the fields and factories rather than ever reaching their true potential. By ensuring that education is a universal right, we honor the efforts of our predecessors and create a society where everyone has the chance to contribute to and benefit from the shared human experience.”

Diane Young is the progressive in the race to replace John James in a swing district north of Detroit. “When President Franklin Roosevelt spoke of the protection of the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment— we had just come out of the Great Depression and a devastating world war,” she told us last night. “The elderly and infirmed lived in abject poverty without any social safety net. FDR’s social security program has gone on to lift millions of seniors and disabled Americans out of poverty. It has to be FDR’s single greatest legacy. I am committed to protecting and expanding this program so future generations can also live without the fear of being impoverished in retirement. That is what a civilized society does. John James and the Republican Study group are bound and determined to dismantle the work that FDR began. We must fight every day to preserve this legacy and grow it so that the entire Second Bill of Rights gets implemented.”

Early this morning, I spoke with Herb Jones, the progressive running for the Virginia seat help by MAGAT Republican Rob Wittman. “Everyone should be paid a living wage,” he told me in true FDR tone, “regardless of their job or position. The level of crime in a community is directly related to poverty. In areas where poverty is low, crime is also low. The inverse is also true. Adequate income for food, shelter, and recreation is equivalent to a living wage. Providing a right for living wage contributes to the other rights listed by FDR. Hiring more law enforcement officers will not reduce crime. Reduce poverty by ensuring everyone earns a living wage, will reduce crime.”

Another candidate, Thomas Witkop in Florida, Brian Mast’s worst nightmare, was so inspired by the FDR film above, that he sent us this early this morning:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Second Bill of Rights" is a vision of economic security for all in an industrialized society. What struck me most was the first right: A person, regardless of state, class, or creed, has the right to work. At first glance this 'right' seems almost an oxymoron; the right to work. But it's not just about employment. It's about dignified, meaningful work that contributes to society.

'Work' in today's society often entails being an invisible cog in a corporate machine while receiving a paltry paycheck. Such workers are underpaid and unable to afford a comfortable life. Many rely on food stamps, medicaid, public housing and other social programs for survival, while those unable to work may not survive at all. The conservative right derisively labels these people 'entitled'. The truth is, the 'entitlements' are a second-rate band-aid. These people are the cornerstones of our economy, and without them we would not have the unprecedented economic surplus we enjoy today. They are not just 'entitled' to their fair share of that surplus. They have a right to it.

The "Second Bill of Rights" contains eight rights, but can be encapsulated by two: The right to dignified work, and the right to the economic surplus generated by that work. In today's world, that surplus allows for adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education for ALL. In this way, "The Second Bill of Rights" is an expansion of Rousseau's social contract. While the social contract involves individuals giving up some personal freedoms to a government in exchange for the protection of their rights, FDR asserts that if individuals work and contribute to our society, they deserve a set of additional rights that reflect the new realities of the industrial age. Liberty in the modern context goes beyond traditional political freedoms. The rights outlined by FDR are the pillars of a renewed social contract.

Since FDR's time America has diverged from this vision. The gap between the rich and poor has only widened. The cost of healthy food is prohibitive, families are crammed into inadequate housing, healthcare is inaccessible for the most vulnerable, and public schools, especially in states like Florida, face continual threats from privatization and underfunding. Despite this, the economy is roaring because the poor have always upheld their side of the contract. Billionaires and mega corporations don't have to because they're able to pocket the politicians, who promise change over and over again but don't deliver. To uphold FDR's renewed social contract, we need new politicians who will work tirelessly to free their constituents from the constraints of economic insecurity. That is my driving motivation in running for Congress. To me, FDR's Second Bill of Rights is a powerful reminder of what America can be with the right leadership. FDR renewed the contract, now it's OUR job to uphold it.

Did any of these candidates say something that resonated with you? Let them know with a contribution— even a small one— here. Lot's of $10 and $20 contributions fund grassroots campaigns.