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michaelflutist's avatar

That's not a good reason not to do it. The U.S. is in any case in a period that will lead to its downfall, because no-one will consider agreements or alliances with it to be worth the paper they're printed on, but either way, we need a new Teddy Roosevelt to bust today's huge trusts, just like that was needed at the turn of the 20th century.

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James Trout's avatar

Although TR was far from perfect on breaking up large corporations. Ironically his falling out with Taft occurred because Taft broke up a large corporation which TR considered a "good trust."

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michaelflutist's avatar

Which one?

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James Trout's avatar

US Steel.

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michaelflutist's avatar

Strange. But US Steel did continue to exist. Why did he think they were a good trust?

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Tigercourse's avatar

TR is such a fascinating figure. I think someone else on this site called Trump a very Sui Generous figure a few weeks back and that certainly also fits Roosevelt to a T.

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Ethan (KingofSpades)'s avatar

He didn't break up many trusts, he mostly put in regulations.

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michaelflutist's avatar

But at least he faced down some very powerful, rich people and got the ball rolling.

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Zero Cool's avatar

I recall years ago that the late John McCain was a fan of Teddy Roosevelt.

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michaelflutist's avatar

OK, and he was a sane senator who showed occasional independence. Did he ever try to bust a trust, though? He was one of the Keating Five, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five.

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Zero Cool's avatar

I'm just pointing out what McCain believed. By contrast to today's GOP, McCain had more in common with Teddy Roosevelt as far as being a conservationist and pro-environment (although even McCain's environmental voting record while better to most in the GOP today was more mixed).

If I am able to find more of what was mentioned in this article about this topic, I'll share in this comment or a separate one.

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13mccain.html

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Zero Cool's avatar

I just got more from the NY Times article, which was published on July 13th, over a month before the 2008 RNC Convention:

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13mccain.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------HUDSON, Wis.

Senator John McCain in a wide-ranging interview called for a government that is frugal but more active than many conservatives might prefer. He said government should play an important role in areas like addressing climate change, regulating campaign finance and taking care of тАЬthose in America who cannot take care of themselves.тАЭ

тАЬI count myself as a conservative Republican, yet I view it to a large degree in the Theodore Roosevelt mold,тАЭ Mr. McCain said, referring to RooseveltтАЩs reputation for reform, environmentalism and tough foreign policy.

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Mr. McCain has long admired Roosevelt, and in the interview he identified with him as a fellow reformer and environmentalist and also touched on his assertive foreign policy. The choice might to some extent be an indication of how Mr. McCain would like to position himself now that he has moved from the primary to the general election.

тАЬI believe less governance is the best governance, and that government should not do what the free enterprise and private enterprise and individual entrepreneurship and the states can do, but I also believe there is a role for government,тАЭ Mr. McCain said. He added: тАЬGovernment should take care of those in America who can not take care of themselves.тАЭ

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michaelflutist's avatar

Cool. He waffled a lot on stuff like that, but at least he was not an extremist and thought for himself.

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