Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Worst. President. Ever?

[Jack Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

The worst president ever? That's easy- Warren Harding. He was extremely
corrupt and himself stated that he never should have gotten the job of
President of the United States. I'm surprised that he wasn't impeached
as a Teapot Dome today would land a sitting President out on their butt
in a jiffy.

Number two would be FDR. He had far too much influence over the country-
an unprecedented four terms and probably would have run yet again if
he'd been alive to do so. That alone was dangerous. But the real worst
part is that his administration almost single-handedly set up the
current "big government" template we're still following to this day. And
it also started many of the problems that are becoming particularly
poignant today. Social Security started on his watch. He full well knew
that it depended on consistent huge economic or population growth as it
is effectively a pyramid scheme. Also, the wage ceilings he instituted
during the Great Depression led to employers having to offer other
benefits other than wages (health insurance, non-contributory pensions)
to attract any workers. Those two things are absolutely huge liabilities
for U.S. companies, but the worst part is that those liabilities can
sink companies and then the benefits go away, leaving everybody screwed
as they were led to believe that they'd always be around. You have to
hand it to FDR as it's not many Presidents that enact policy that
affects people more 70 years down the line than it did in their day.

--Jack

On Fri, 2008-04-04 at 22:47 -0400, Jonathan King wrote:
> This is not a scientific poll to say the very least, and, to be
> honest, I don't know what status it should have. That said, the
> results pretty much parallel his current unpopularity, and history is
> not generally kind to unpopular presidents (Truman is one of those
> exceptions that proves the rule).
> 
> jking



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