Return of the “Red Decade”

Democratic Party Embraces Socialist Bill of Rights Return of the “Red Decade”

If you are a regular to this column, then you know we have mentioned many times that current events in Washington are very familiar. We’ve seen this movie before. And we have. For the past four years we have drawn our readers attention to the fact that Obama’s agenda is, in fact, a socialist agenda a form of “Marxism Lite”, if you will. In fact, we have pointed out many times that the Democratic Party, itself, seems to reflect the agenda of the socialist party. We have even, on occasion, suggested the Democratic Party change its name to more accurately reflect its socialist ideology. The curse of America is its refusal to learn from its past. In fact, more often than not, we refuse to look back for guidance even when compelled to do so by out-of-control events. We pay a heavy price for that reluctance and reticence. Had we looked back recently, we would have realized the roots of the machinations of the Democratic Party, and its current leader Barack H. Obama, are deep in “The Red Decade” of the 1930’s in America.

“The Red Decade is a term coined by journalist and historian Eugene Lyons to describe a period in American history in the 1930s characterized by a widespread infatuation with communism in general and Stalinism in particular. Lyons believed this idolization of Joseph Stalin and exultation of Bolshevik achievements to have reached its high point in 1938, running deepest amongst liberals, intellectuals, and journalists and even some government and federal officials.” Consider this:

“Communal consciousness was also stimulated by the activities of socialists and communists throughout the 1930s. Although probably fewer than 100,000 Americans were members of socialist or communist parties in the 1930s, enough prominent intellectuals joined or gave their support to such parties, and enough strikes and demonstrations were led by such groups, to earn the 1930s the title of “the red decade” from some historians. For both socialist and communist groups the goal was not communal consciousness, but class consciousness—a recognition by the poor and the workers in America of their common plight and of their common exploitation by the rich. Socialist and communist political parties often required extraordinary dedication from their members to the cause—in the case of the Communist Party, the near-complete subordination of their individual lives to collective action and party leadership. Socialists and communists sponsored colleges, newspapers, journals of opinion, plays, art exhibits, folk-music concerts, parades, and summer camps to promote class consciousness. Socialists and communists led various labor and farm unions and sought to build class solidarity among these members.” Now consider this from an article published in 1948: The Democratic Party Adopts the Soviet Bill of Rights:

“[The] historic Democratic party is no more, that it has been transformed into a labor party so completely that there is nothing left of it but the name. The process by which [the] transformation….was brought about had its beginnings during the period of “crisis government” established by Franklin D. Roosevelt and his “brain trust” in 1933. Measures having far-reaching application and effect were drafted by the President’s “advisors” and were jammed through Congress, frequently without most of the members having an opportunity to read them. Mr. Roosevelt had been elected in 1932 by an electoral majority of eight to one….In such circumstances, Congress practically abdicated. It became literally a “rubber stamp” Congress. And Republican Senators and Representatives, with the majority of their constituents supporting President Roosevelt, were careful not to show too much opposition to measures which he favored. That’s why is was so easy to junk the Democratic platform of 1932 and to enact so many measures that violated the most fundamental principles of the historic Democratic party without protest from Southern Democrats, and even with their support.

One sequence [of the transformation] began during the period from 1935 to 1937, or at the very height of what Eugene Lyons has called “The Red Decade,” when it was fashionable in certain circles in New York, Los Angeles and Washington to glorify all things Russian and to affect a “revolutionary” attitude toward all existing institutions in the United States. It was a time when literally dozens of organizations with high-sounding names were set up in this country by the Communists to attract innocent “fellow travelers” and when The Daily Worker undertook to popularize the slogan “Communism is the Americanism of the Twentieth Century.”

In February, 1935, Joseph Stalin announced that the Russian Constitution would be democratized; in June, 1936, the first draft of the new Soviet Constitution was completed and published, [and adopted December 5, 1936]. It was promptly translated into English and by February, 1937, copies of it in the form of a five-cent pamphlet were available throughout this country. It immediately became the leading topic of discussion among the so-called “liberals” in the United States. [The] Soviet Bill of Rights…guarantees every citizen a job…. the right to material security in old age and also in case of illness and loss of capacity to toil….[and] “The equal rights of citizens of the USSR, independent of their nationality and race, in all fields of economic, state, cultural and public-political life is unalterable law. Any direct or indirect limitation of rights, or conversely, any establishment of direct or indirect preferences of citizens dependent on their racial and national membership, as well as all preaching of national exclusiveness, or hate and contempt, is punishable by law.”

[In late January, 1944] President Roosevelt revealed that the [New Deal] was being replaced by a streamlined post-war program. Here is what President Roosevelt said: “As our nation had grown in size and stature, however – as our industrial economy expanded – [our previous life and liberty] political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness. We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second bill of rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all – regardless of station, race or creed. Among these are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or mines of the nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right of every business man, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; The right of every family to a decent home; The right of adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment; The right to a good education.”

The striking resemblance which this whole passage bears to the…. Soviet Bill of Rights need not be dwelt upon. In his message to Congress on September 6, 1945, President Truman said: “The objectives for our domestic economy which we seek in long-range plans were summarized by the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt over a year and a half ago in the form of an Economic Bill of rights. Let us make the attainment of those rights the essence of post-war American economic life.”

Notably, he issued a “salute to labor” on Labor Day, 1946, and more recently on June 28, 1947…. he discussed the subject in an address to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at Lincoln Memorial in Washington. In his “salute to labor,” President Truman said: “Labor, perhaps more than any other group, has consistently supported [FDR’s] “Economic Bill of Rights.” We must now move forward to full achievement of these objectives: useful and remunerative jobs for all; income high enough to provide adequate food, clothing and recreation; freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopoly; adequate health protection; more effective social security measures, and educational opportunities for all.”

In his more recent address to the [NAACP], by coupling these “economic” rights with other civil rights, he stated clearly….that it is the responsibility of the federal government to guarantee and to enforce these new rights. “The extension of civil rights today means not protection of the people AGAINST the government, but protection of the people BY the government.” (The South’s Political Plight, Peter Molyneaux, Calhoun Clubs of the South, Inc., 1948, pp. 56-57, 67-70, 75-77, 81-84,) Where, and from whom, have you heard those very same words and sentiments expressed in recent months? As the writer says above: “The striking resemblance which this whole passage bears to the…Soviet Bill of Rights need not be dwelt upon.” I would agree. The reason is abundantly clear. What we are seeing, right now, in Washington, DC and, indeed, throughout the United States is nothing more than a replay of “The Red Decade” from America’s 1930s. It’s “Marxism on the March” in America. All the while we are suffering from the damage done this country during the original Red Decade.

I am slowly coming around to the conclusion that America’s financial crisis and Obama’s election and reelection and even the current “fiscal cliff” crisis have been carefully contrived and orchestrated. Looking at our immediate future, I am now expecting a devastating US monetary collapse probably before the summer of 2013. Why? Because it is the next logical step in the devolution of the United States as a constitutional representative republic. If I am right, and I now believe that there is a very good chance that I am, the US government must be rendered inoperable. We are very nearly there even now.

Not to worry, though, I suspect there is a brand new government, waiting in the wings, to immediately step forward and save the day. It won’t be a constitutional government. It won’t be a representative republic. It WILL be an authoritarian, powerful, central government based on Marxism—Communism. Why in the world would I dare even speculate such a thing? Because, dear reader, I am a student of history. (Emphasis on “STUDENT”. I’m STILL learning!) We are told by “the preacher” in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9. It is unfortunate but most do not understand that by studying the past one also studies the future. I have made an attempt here to connect the past of the US to the its present and to my interpretation of the country’s immediate future. And no, it is not pretty nor pleasant. May God Bless America—and SOON!