http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/countering-right-wingers-historicalCountering right-wingers' historical revisionism: The Top 12 things the progressive movement has given America
By David Neiwert Monday Apr 05, 2010 5:00pm
Video at link~
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Beck provided a splendid example of this miscarriage of history last month when he ran a segment claiming that FDR actually admired Mussolini by citing a selective quote. (In fact, many people were enamored of Mussolini's words, early on, and then were disabused by his actions.) Somehow left out of the discussion: The fact that FDR declared war on Mussolini and effectively drove him from power. Yeah, that's some admiration society.
But really, the entire enterprise is utter bosh. As we've pointed, at least in respect to middle- and working-class economics, and civil rights, there's a whole bunch of things Beck and his cohorts are omitting from the picture.
Let's just talk, for a moment, about the many things Americans enjoy -- and largely take for granted -- that were the product of the progressive movement. Here, just off the top of my head, are my Top 12:
* The 40-hour work week.
* Weekends.
* Vacations.
* The right of women to vote.
* The right of people of all colors to vote.
* The right of people of all colors to use public schools and facilities.
* Public schools.
* Child-labor laws.
* The right to unionize.
* Health-care benefits.
* National Parks.
* National Forests.
Those are just for starters. I bet you can come up with some of your own.
Saying you believe the progressive movement has brought evil on the nation should logically suggest that you want to reverse the reforms that it has produced. That is, you're saying you want to take these 12 things away, too.
That might not be such a popular thing to do, ya know?