Blast from the past: Herbert Hoover on economic recovery

... "I would like also to reiterate the statement which I recently made at Detroit, that the most important issue before the American people right now is to overcome this crisis, that we may secure a restoration of normal jobs to our unemployed, recovery of our agricultural prices and of our business, and that we may extend generous help in the meantime to tide our people over until these fundamental restorations are established.

I pointed out on that occasion that the battle has now changed from a successful defense of our country from disaster and chaos to forward marching attack on a hundred fronts through a score of instrumentalities and weapons toward recovery. Since that time I have had further positive evidence showing that the measures and policies that we have set in motion are driving the forces of depression into further retreat with constantly increasing rapidity. If there shall be no change in the strategy of this battle, if there shall be no delay and hesitation, we shall have the restoration of men and women this battle, if there shall be no delay and hesitation, we shall have the restoration of men and women to their normal jobs and we shall have that lift to agriculture from its anxieties and its losses."
[Herbert Hoover, Address in Indianapolis, Indiana,
October 28th, 1932]

I'll note that Hoover seemed much more proactive than W, looking to attack "on a hundred fronts through a score of instrumentalities and weapons toward recovery".

Hoover was not content to cite actions taken to date. He foresaw the need to keep attacking the economic situation.

He made no bland observations that "the United States is on top of the situation", but proposed specific next steps to avert catastrophe.

[Note: this is in fact a very hard read - it is almost entirely a polemic against FDR, a final campaign speech, delivered in Oct 1932.]

Mocking W:

Secretary Paulson has been -- is supportive of that action, as am I. And I want to thank you, Mr. Secretary, for working over the weekend.
[President Bush Discusses Economy, 17 March 2008]

Working over the weekend!!!. Can W even conceive such a thing!

I'll note in passing that as a well-paid, but hardly wealthy, functionary of a Fortune 100 company, I am used to working over the weekend.

Perhaps if W were willing to devote a little more time to the multiple crises he faces he'd do a bit better.

Stop the madness!