New Deal or Raw Deal?

How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America

By: Burton Folsom Jr.

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In this shocking and groundbreaking new book, economic historian Burton Folsom, Jr., exposes the idyllic legend of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a myth of epic proportions. With questionable moral character and a vendetta against the business elite, Roosevelt created New Deal programs marked by inconsistent planning, wasteful spending, and opportunity for political gain---ultimately elevating public opinion of his administration but falling flat in achieving the economic revitalization that America so desperately needed from the Great Depression. Folsom takes a critical, revisionist look at Roosevelt's presidency, his economic policies, and his personal life. Elected in 1932 on a buoyant tide of promises to balance the increasingly uncontrollable national budget and reduce the catastrophic unemployment rate, the charismatic thirty-second president not only neglected to pursue those goals, he made dramatic changes to federal programming that directly contradicted his campaign promises. Price fixing, court packing, regressive taxes, and patronism were all hidden inside the alphabet soup of his popular New Deal, putting a financial strain on the already suffering lower classes and discouraging the upper classes from taking business risks that potentially could have jostled national cash flow from dormancy. Many government programs that are widely used today have their seeds in the New Deal. Farm subsidies, minimum wage, and welfare, among others, all stifle economic growth---encouraging decreased productivity and exacerbating unemployment. Roosevelt's imperious approach to the presidency changed American politics forever, and as he manipulated public opinion, American citizens became unwitting accomplices to the stilted economic growth of the 1930s. More than sixty years after FDR died in office, we still struggle with the damaging repercussions of his legacy.

©2009 Burton Folson, Jr. (P)2009 Tantor

FDR, One Our Best Presidents? Ridiculous!

Policy initiated by Woodrow Wilson and expanded greatly by FDR continue to haunt our nation. Voters not demanding character in the people in political office, will ultimately result in all of us paying a huge price in the loss of liberty. This is a great book that points out the fallacy of the great New Deal programmed that the conman FDR jammed down the throats of American citizens. Corruption at the maximum. I can't wait for someone to tell me how great FDR. That person will get an education.

Eye Opening

I cannot believe how little I knew about the great depression. This book told me more about what is going on today than anything you will learn from the news.

Must Read

This may be the smartest and most insightful book on Roosevelt and the New Deal ever written.

A must listen!

This was one of the more interesting and well researched books I have listened to this year. As I was listening I was so surprised at some of the information in the book that I stopped listening so I could do some independent research before continuing to listen. Frankly, I just didn't believe some of the stuff could have gone on in this supposedly free country but it was easy enough to confirm the facts in the book. I'm shocked to find myself so uneducated about this time period, being a college grad and having taken US history in college, read numerous books about the depression era and even a bio or two of FDR. Everyone should read or listen to this book as it provides an excellent analysis of how FDR extended the depression with insane price controls that landed small business people in jail if they didn't follow them. Talk about micromanaging. The government told dry cleaners how much they could charge for cleaning a shirt. They told people who sold chickens how to sell chickens and that people were not allowed to select the chickens they wanted to buy. (They had to take the first one they happened to touch). Eventually, this policy and other policies of Roosevelt's administration went before the Supreme Court and was overturned. Roosevelt apparently got reelected because he managed to get so many citizens dependent upon the government that they couldn't risk not voting for him. This is a book I will listen to more than once. Narration is also very good.

Much-needed revisionist account of FDR

Great story- telling, filled with facts, quotes, and anecdotes. Makes a compelling case and leaves you wondering when, if ever, this retelling will finally break into the average college US history class.

enlightening but biased

Very interesting to hear details about the ridiculous programs started by FDR and their impact on the country during the depression. This sort of retrospection is vital to preventing similar debacles during the current economic slump.
I have very conservative views - but this book was a little too biased in my opinion. It's great to point out that FDR may have abused the IRS in targeting political opposition, but when someone was legitimately caught by such an investigation i think the author was unreasonable to say essentially ... so-and-so was found to owe X-million dollars in taxes and fines, and Roosevelt wouldn't even cut him a break.... Why would he? That sort of comment weakens the book and makes me wonder what else might be spun a bit too much.
The strong bias cost it a star, but it's a good listen with a great narrator.

A true account of the New Deal

I was lucky to have known a person who was born before the progressive movement, my grandfather. He did not talk much politics but when he did I listened. He never had a kind word for FDR. I heard first hand tales of corruption and waste from an eye witness in Philadelphia. The book New Deal or Raw Deal confirmed what I as taught as a child. At last the truth is told. FDRs New Deal did not end the depression.

Obama / FDR!

Great book! You can't find this info many places today. This book will open your eyes to Obama's change. A change that started in 1932!

Uncomfortable history for some

Where does New Deal or Raw Deal? rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Of the dozen or so books I have listened to this ranks in the top three.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can tell you who my least favorite character was - FDR.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Mr. Sklar's presentation was flawless and easy to listen to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The telling of how FDR would set the price of gold - no basis just whims. His blatant racism and lack of care for people - totally opposite of what is taught.

Any additional comments?

If you take the politics out of the New Deal - you would not have any deal. The New Deal extended the Great Depression by years as it was just one big experiment by an egotist who did not have a clue except how to manipulate. Those on the left would have a tough time listening or reading this book but it is worthwhile history.

Great book, bad voicing

The book was great! The author went into just the right amount of detail. There’s a ton of information awaiting anyone who thinks they know FDR and the New Deal, yet it’s not a clutter of irrelevant descriptions.

My only complaint of the book is the author’s monetarist theory of the cause of the Depression (I prefer the Austrian analysis). But this does not detract from the overall book at all.

The voicing of this audiobook, however, was not very good. Alan Sklar has a voice that’s very easy to fall asleep to and sometimes has a weird inflection that doesn’t really fit the “attitude” of reading a book, if that makes sense. Worst of all, however, the breathing was not edited out for the most part and it became very annoying and hard to ignore once I noticed it.