As talk turns to whom the new President will appoint to his cabinet and what tasks they'll immediately turn themselves to in the first 100 days, a stirring new video from our friends at the Campaign for America's Future reminds us what is possible.
As scholar Anthony Badger wrote in his history of the New Deal, Franklin Roosevelt's first 100 days in office were marked by a frenzy of legislation -- sixteen pieces in all -- that reshaped and redefined the role of government. President-elect Obama would do well to be as ambitious but he needs to be pushed. Much, if not all, of FDR's programs wouldn't have been possible without strong pressure from organized movements of people. Obama needs that same kind of pressure. The movements are out there. Join one today.
Peter Rothberg
As talk turns to whom the new President will appoint to his cabinet and what tasks they’ll immediately turn themselves to in the first 100 days, a stirring new video from our friends at the Campaign for America’s Future reminds us what is possible.
As scholar Anthony Badger wrote in his history of the New Deal, Franklin Roosevelt’s first 100 days in office were marked by a frenzy of legislation — sixteen pieces in all — that reshaped and redefined the role of government. President-elect Obama would do well to be as ambitious but he needs to be pushed. Much, if not all, of FDR’s programs wouldn’t have been possible without strong pressure from organized movements of people. Obama needs that same kind of pressure. The movements are out there. Join one today.
Peter RothbergTwitterPeter Rothberg is the The Nation’s associate publisher.