My friend, writer and scholar Harvey Kaye, author of Thomas Paine and the Promise of America (one of the best books written on Paine), calls out one of America’s more reactionary political figures, congressman Darrell Issa, for his comments regarding the moocher generation that sold America down the river while in the process of coming together to win World War II .

As Issa commented…

“The Greatest Generation created many of what the private sector would call Ponzi schemes. They created Social Security, they created Medicare on their watch, [they] created Medicaid … All of that without resources or funding.” Indeed, he continued, “A generation that was doing many things right — coming out of World War II — also planted the seeds for all the problems we have today.”

Harvey had some remarks about that.

You can just imagine the reaction of his Republican colleagues. They surely can’t defend him on it. Ever since Reagan spoke at Normandy, France on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 1984, they have been trying their best to take advantage of Americans’ phenomenal admiration and affection for the World War II veterans — apparently hoping to wrap themselves in the “flags of our fathers,” not to mention praying that Americans do not remember that their party opposed America’s entry into the Second World War.

———

In his defense, the congressman did refer to Social Security, and the generation’s later Medicare and Medicaid initiatives, as “Ponzi schemes.” Still, one can practically hear the Tea Party’s admonitions: “Darrell, what are you doing? You are putting our whole historical project at risk. Indict FDR, not our parents and grandparents! Hey, don’t forget, loose lips sink ships! Talk like that and the next thing you know Americans might start remembering what made the Greatest Generation and its greatest leader great…”

They might start remembering how a generation subjected big business to public account and regulation, empowered government to address the needs of working people, organized labor unions, fought for their rights, enlarged the ‘We’ in ‘We the People,’ established a social security system, expanded the nation’s public infrastructure, improved the environment, and imbued themselves with fresh democratic convictions, hopes, and aspirations — all of which gave them the courage, confidence, and wherewithal to fight and win a global war against fascism and imperialism…

They might start remembering how a president and people saved the nation from economic ruin and political oblivion and turned it into the strongest and most prosperous country on earth by making it freer, more equal, and more democratic than ever before in the process.

Hell, Darrell, before you know it Americans might start remembering how progressive their parents and grandparents were and want to start emulating them!

Harvey is currently working on a new book about FDR and the Four Freedoms. By the way, I had no idea that these were imprinted on the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all the servicemen and women who served in the armed forces during the Second World War. They knew what they were fighting for, and it wasn’t the kind of world Darrell Issa wants us all to live in. A fact revealed by Issa’s recent comments.

Read The Complete Article by Harvey Kaye Here