Article 11: How the New Deal Defines the Debate over Obamacare The Affordable Care Act or more notably called, Obamacare is considered to be an extension to the New Deal since Medicare and Medicaid. The article took us back to the election of 1932 where Hoover and F.D.R. competed for presidency. A quote stated in this article reiterated Hoover saying, this was “more than a contest between two men, it was a contest between two philosophies of government.” A change in America was created that day. Roosevelt’s inaugural term decided to kick out the old American order of “the financial Titan” and the “do-nothing laissez faire” government. F.D.R. brought about the “New Deal,” for the protection of the “forgotten man.” F.D.R. stated that “democracy is actually a quest, a never ending seeking for better things.” This marked the new age of American “national democracy”, with the constitution and Bill of Rights, which differ from “Jeffersonian Individualism and states’ rights.” The article explains the New Deal changed the way of thinking in America. We shouldn’t be isolated and independent anymore, but come together as one democracy. This shunned out the idea of liberty and encouraged a more centralized administration that provides positive rights to “everyone,” in a more democratic value. Roosevelt asked for the power to wage war and invade foreign countries in his first term and declared “the challenge to democracy in his second. He thought that the house wasn’t given enough support it needed. He wanted the American citizen to be the goal of the nation’s interest and concern as stated in the article. This was to not help those who have a lot but to help those who have too little. Roosevelt wanted a larger government to provide assistance to those who cannot afford it. Hoover on the other hand saw this to challenge liberty, the individual freedom and limited government. This article revealed that Hoover proclaimed this as an “exceptional American System, with a European version of regimented community. “The New Deal programs, he argued, represented a radical departure from the foundations of one hundred fifty years which have made this the greatest nation in the world.” The author stated this because, Hoover believed this was a movement that will radically change the meaning of liberty. Liberty, which the foundation of this country has envisioned this to be the meaning of the greatest nation in the world. Hoover expressed that there was no need for this paradigm shift from complete liberty to Government Empire of “direction, dictating, and competing in economic life.” Stand clear of the regimented European system as Hoover was trying to imply. The debate continues even today. The author points out that the people are unsure about the realization of health care and the loss of their liberty to keeping their own policy. People are unhappy now more than before about this transformation. Even the progressives and conservatives agree that this is a path toward a centralized government system. This was all about how to help our fellow American, whether through Hoover’s “Rugged Individual” or Roosevelt’s “forgotten man.” The article tries to explain that there must be room for both. People should be allowed to keep their own policy while being able to give coverage to those who cannot afford one. It also explains that people are starting to understand that Obamacare takes away too much liberty and forces government regimentation. My option in this matter agrees with Hoover in a way. Being a part of the lower middle class, I have an understanding of the hardships in live and what needs to be done to be successful. I believe that success comes from the individual and if there are restrictions, it adds limitations to success. I believe in Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and being a free man. This brings me to my second argument. I cannot believe 100% on Hoover’s action. His ideology insists that it is possible for everyone to thrive. In my experience, I have seen the poverty and see those in dire need of help. Of course there are those who take advantage of government subsidized help. In reality people living in this extreme condition only struggle in their environment, whereas the more successful upper class citizens tend to thrive in theirs. It only makes sense that the government takes action to lend a helping hand at the cost of liberty. My views are mixed between this partisanship of parties. However I strongly agree with the author’s intent on asking for a way to coexist and make both sides happy. Until then, this fight will only disrupt the true American values of liberty and justice for all.
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