Reflection on Previous Writing
Chapter 26 was particularly interesting to me on account of President Franklin Roosevelt being a part of the wealthy elite that had contributed to the Great Depression at the time. It was thought-provoking to see how he crafted a campaign strategy that focused on changing his narrative from a wealthy elite to a transformational leader. His attempt to transform the American society led to a number of accusations on the lines of fascism and socialism. President Roosevelt is an embodiment of the American political class, one that has remained relatively consistent over time and includes a system of campaign promises that do not actualize.
The overall idea presented in the chapter is that of an American political system that has largely remained the same since the 20th century. Roosevelt was able to create jobs, curb over-production in the agricultural sector, create an unemployment program, provide the means for many Americans to purchase homes, and create the FDIC, among other programs included in New Deal program (Openstax 26.2). despite these achievements, the focus of the piece is on the fact that the political elite and wealthy continue to have a larger say in running US affairs than the common individual.
The piece stands out because of the way it portrays President Roosevelt as a different breed of the political wealthy and elite, yet a visionary leader. It goes against what has been described as characteristic of the wealthy elite. It shows how class conflict can be tamed through tolerance and having a common agenda. By focusing on building the country, Roosevelt was able to attain a landslide re-election, an indication of settling of class conflicts.
