Our 19th President, Rutherford B. Hayes, that is – who would without question be defending the Occupy Wall Street movement in nearly all of its manifestations if alive today.
Such is revealed by the following timely and prescient sentiment penned in 1888 (emphasis mine):
The real difficulty is with the vast wealth and power in the hands of the few and the unscrupulous who represent or control capital. Hundreds of laws of Congress and the state legislatures are in the interest of these men and against the interests of workingmen. These need to be exposed and repealed. All laws on corporations, on taxation, on trusts, wills, descent, and the like, need examination and extensive change. This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations. — How is this?
Hayes wrote this in his personal diary as a response to, among other things, the growing wealth being accumulated by railroad tycoons and the unfair tax codes that served only the wealthiest of men.
In fact, the problem of income inequality was one of Hayes' greatest causes. From Rutherford B. Hayes by Hans Louis Trefousse:
Another one of his causes was the control of the growing inequality of wealth. At a time when theories of laissez-faire predominated, and when it was believed that the iron law of wages could not be disturbed, to say nothing of the ever-present ideas of survival of the fittest, his concern about this subject was quite unusual and forward-looking. More equal distribution of property was a question he discussed with friends. Believing that in America the development of a permanent aristocracy of inherited wealth should not be allowed, he thought the answer might be a limitation on inheritance with the public the beneficiary of the remainder of the estate.
The development of a permanent aristocracy of inherited wealth should not be allowed.
It's a sentiment that is being echoed today in our streets, in our public squares, in our foreclosed homes now being reclaimed. As are other sentiments Hayes expressed, such as a fairer tax system that demanded more upon the wealthy, or regulations that broke the tycoons' grip on Washington.
To be sure, he wasn't perfect. He didn't believe in strikes or boycotts, and was loathe for conflict. However, I have no doubt that, if alive today, Hayes would be out in the streets, chanting on Wall Street:
This is what democracy looks like.
Or, at least it would be in his diary.
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Author's Note 1:
While I didn't have Obama's speech on the economy in mind when I wrote this, I must give a proud nod to our 44th President for touching on many of the themes mentioned above today:
Kudos to our President. May words turn into deeds.
Author's Note 2:
I just noticed that jamess has a post with Obama's above speech and some text as well. I agree with his post: it was one great speech.