FDR warned us about fascism

Franklin Roosevelt sent this message to Congress in 1938 on the verge of World War II. His words precisely analyze the situation we are in, and prophesy a fascist future we must, at all costs, avoid. He wrote:

“Unhappy events abroad have retaught us two simple truths about the liberty of a democratic people.

The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.

The second truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.”

James Perkins

Leverett

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