FDR and Obama
by: Craig Gurchinoff '10It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it
frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Taken out of context, this message is of great value. Answering the former president’s call requires initiative, humbleness, and perseverance. But is this good advice in any context? It seems that the tenets of FDR’s strategy are correct, but not quite sufficient for negotiating problems in any context. Generally, we get only a handful of strikes from bosses, police, and women before we start hating the repercussions of repeated failure. For this reason we must take care to recognize not just the obvious consequences of our actions, but also those that may not be so apparent at first. Unforeseen consequences are of less concern in dealings with one’s boss or the police, where boundaries and consequences are defined absolutely: along other avenues it is not always the thought that counts.
The Roosevelt Administration revolutionized economy and state in order to bring America out of the Great Depression: the Obama Administration is revolutionizing economy and state in order to bring America out of the current slump. Indeed, rule-making is the order of the day. Both permanent and stringent, legislation can be a viable trouble-shooter. However, legislation is a bane when the intentions of the legislators are frustrated by reality, or when unintended consequences manifest themselves as new problems resultant of the original legislation. In such cases, rule becomes blister.
In concession, the pragmatic individual keeps an open mind concerning the role of the rule-makers. He who refuses any role for government is considered by most to be hopelessly stubborn, albeit extraordinarily optimistic about the morals of individuals. No steps forward and one step back is not pragmatism. Alas, if this holds true for economists who disapprove of regulation, it ought to hold true for regulators who have reserves about free markets. Surely, the actions of every tactician cannot be justified by his initiative to try, his humbleness to acknowledge error, and his perseverance to screw-up again. Intentions are noble when we’re young, but results matter in the real world. By all means, try, but it’s awfully easy for rule-makers to be humble about mistakes that have relatively permanent implications.
Craig Gurchinoff
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