Sundownerz

FDR was president during one of the most difficult periods of American history. He didn't do much for sovial issues, I guess, but a bastard? I'm not sure that's fair.

Maybe others can respond where my knowledge lapses, but the NRA was bad in practice, not so much theory. The idea was formed by his brain trust with the belief that competition could no longer be sustained. Not such a crazy thought considering the previous decade. The goal was to create fair prices through government monitored trade associations. They were supposed to protect small businesses too, it just wasn't effective. It's unlikely it would have continued beyond 35 regardless of the supreme court ruling. The NRA DID bring us section 7a,though. An important step in strengthening labor. This was signed back into law within a year of the NIRA being ruled unconstitutional in the Wagner Act.

The AAA made them destroy their crops and slaughter cattle because the prices of agricultural goods were too low for farmers to pay their debts. Their purchasing power was disgustingly low. It was a controversial solution, even at the time - it worked though. Giving away food wouldn't have been a long term solution to anything, but it was a hard pill to swallow. Farmers were reluctant until it worked. It should be pointed out this was one part of larger reforms. They could have fed people in the short term, but how can you convince people to keep working their asses off on farms, when they aren't even able to pay their bills? The AAA was more like chemo than a band aid.