New Deal or Raw Deal?

How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America

By: Burton Folsom Jr.

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

In this shocking and groundbreaking new book, economic historian Burton Folsom, Jr., exposes the idyllic legend of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a myth of epic proportions. With questionable moral character and a vendetta against the business elite, Roosevelt created New Deal programs marked by inconsistent planning, wasteful spending, and opportunity for political gain---ultimately elevating public opinion of his administration but falling flat in achieving the economic revitalization that America so desperately needed from the Great Depression. Folsom takes a critical, revisionist look at Roosevelt's presidency, his economic policies, and his personal life. Elected in 1932 on a buoyant tide of promises to balance the increasingly uncontrollable national budget and reduce the catastrophic unemployment rate, the charismatic thirty-second president not only neglected to pursue those goals, he made dramatic changes to federal programming that directly contradicted his campaign promises. Price fixing, court packing, regressive taxes, and patronism were all hidden inside the alphabet soup of his popular New Deal, putting a financial strain on the already suffering lower classes and discouraging the upper classes from taking business risks that potentially could have jostled national cash flow from dormancy. Many government programs that are widely used today have their seeds in the New Deal. Farm subsidies, minimum wage, and welfare, among others, all stifle economic growth---encouraging decreased productivity and exacerbating unemployment. Roosevelt's imperious approach to the presidency changed American politics forever, and as he manipulated public opinion, American citizens became unwitting accomplices to the stilted economic growth of the 1930s. More than sixty years after FDR died in office, we still struggle with the damaging repercussions of his legacy.©2009 Burton Folson, Jr. (P)2009 Tantor

FDR, One Our Best Presidents? Ridiculous!

Policy initiated by Woodrow Wilson and expanded greatly by FDR continue to haunt our nation. Voters not demanding character in the people in political office, will ultimately result in all of us paying a huge price in the loss of liberty. This is a great book that points out the fallacy of the great New Deal programmed that the conman FDR jammed down the throats of American citizens. Corruption at the maximum. I can't wait for someone to tell me how great FDR. That person will get an education.

Eye Opening

I cannot believe how little I knew about the great depression. This book told me more about what is going on today than anything you will learn from the news.

Must Read

This may be the smartest and most insightful book on Roosevelt and the New Deal ever written.

Well researched critical view of FDR and the New Deal

Easy listen. Incredible research that presents a mature understanding of the long term effects of government expansion during the depression.

enlightening but biased

Very interesting to hear details about the ridiculous programs started by FDR and their impact on the country during the depression. This sort of retrospection is vital to preventing similar debacles during the current economic slump.
I have very conservative views - but this book was a little too biased in my opinion. It's great to point out that FDR may have abused the IRS in targeting political opposition, but when someone was legitimately caught by such an investigation i think the author was unreasonable to say essentially ... so-and-so was found to owe X-million dollars in taxes and fines, and Roosevelt wouldn't even cut him a break.... Why would he? That sort of comment weakens the book and makes me wonder what else might be spun a bit too much.
The strong bias cost it a star, but it's a good listen with a great narrator.