The 1932 Election

[Chasstev365]

In the 1932 elections, the Democratic Party won 313 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a gain of 97 seats, securing a commanding majority over the Republicans. The party also flipped control of the U.S. Senate by gaining 12 seats.

And the corrupt Republicans of the 1920's weren't a fraction as corrupt as Donald Trump's MAGA Party of today!

Come on America: Let's beat the 1932 results in 2026!

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. And with those majorities they governed fearlessly and progressively

Ramming through bill after bill in FDR’s first 100 days, with no obstruction from the filibuster.

We don’t need supermajorities to govern fearlessly, just a simple majority and the courage to wield the power it provides.

[SocialDemocrat61]

3. And also racist as hell

So not that progressive. Most New Deal programs only benefited white americans. If you were black or asian or hispanic, you were out of luck.
They were also pro-lynching. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Lynching_Bill_of_1937

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. The Dixiecrats had a lot of power then

But the creation of social security, protection for unions, higher taxes on the wealthiest, and government funded infrastructure projects helped create the middle class, and eventually benefitted all working American families regardless of race.

Just as The Trump-induced widespread suffering will doom the Republicans in the midterms, it was FDR and the Dems fearless progressive governance that gave them majority power for most of the next forty years.


P.S. anti-lynching bills failed to pass numerous times in the decades following the 1937 bill until the Emmet Till bill was passed in 2022.

[SocialDemocrat61]

5. Regardless of race?

Tell that to black Americans who are still economically disadvantaged. And there is nothing fearless progressive about programs that were executed in a racist way. Let’s be honest about democrats back then and not canonize them. That’s what republicans do. We should be more intellectually honest about the past.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Indeed, let's be honest

Do Black Americans get Social Security?

Do Black union members enjoy the same legal protections as White union members?

Do Black Americans enjoy the benefits of public infrastructure projects such as bridges, dams, roads, electricity in rural areas?

All of those programs were started under the New Deal.

So, yes, the Democratic Party had a vile, racist faction until the mid-60’s, and many policies excluded people of colour. That sort of exclusion would be unacceptable to Dems today.

Nevertheless, it was the fearless progressive governance of FDR and the Democrats that helped create and sustain the middle class for decades, and could again if enough courageous Dems are elected in 2026 and 2028.

[SocialDemocrat61]

8. Yes let's be honest

None of programs that they get now did they and other non-white Americans benefit from for decades. And let’s also remember how Jewish refuges from Nazi Germany were not allowed in the country or how Japanese American citizens were illegally put in interment camps for years with no trial or hearing or how about when the army was sent to California to break up a labor strike. Stop mythologizing what really happened back then.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Mythologizing vs Demonizing

I’ve acknowledged the racism and exclusion by the Dems during the FDR era, but you seem incapable of acknowledging the historic legislative accomplishments during those years that laid the foundation for the creation of the middle class and the safety net(s) that benefit all Americans today. The racial animus and inequality of some of the politicians of those times does not erase the significance of those accomplishments, but it does provide important context.

The same was true of the LBJ era - despite the Dixiecrats fighting every step of the way, and despite his preoccupation with Viet Nam, his administration passed historic progressive legislation that strengthened and expanded upon the foundation created under FDR.

Since this thread is about the 1932 election, I am suggesting it would be a good thing if enough courageous Dems were elected who would eschew the pragmatic incrementalism of the hollow centrists, and boldly pursue historic legislations such as that passed during FDR and LBJ’s terms.

[SocialDemocrat61]

10. Not demonizing but being honest

They were great programs but were not perfect and non-white Americans did not benefit from them for several decades. Even Social Security was not perfect. The healthcare part was deleted to pass it. Also the retirement age was increased to 65 at a time the average life expectancy was 62. So it is mythologizing the 1932 congress to pretend that what they did was perfect because it wasn’t. Most of that legislation was imperfect but was improved over many, many years.

[SheltieLover]

2. Let's go Dems!

[intheflow]

6. I'm currently reading Timothy Eagan's book Fever in the Heartland, about the 1920s KKK.

The parallels to MAGA and TrumpLand are so striking it's creepy. But also kind of comforting. Because we were pretty much in the same spot 100 years ago but overcame it to see human rights advanced for all adults in the US (at least on paper). Hope springs eternal!

[sarisataka]

11. You are overlooking the most important issue of 1932

it wasn't corruption, it was the Great Depression.

[Chasstev365]

12. You're missing my point; corrupt, Republican/Wall Street polices helped cause the Great Depression.

Just like corrupt Trump/Republican/Wall Street polices are hurting us economically today.