Do you know why there were no marches on state capitals to end rationing during WW2?

[GulfCoast66]

26. Everything you say is true. But context is important.

The largest block of FDRs congressional support was Southern Democrats. Who at the time were the same Democrats who supported secession in 1860. If he pushed anything that helped African Americans at all they would have stonewalled. Because they took segregation more seriously than anything. Social Security is the perfect example. The only way he could get it thru was by exempting farm workers and domestic help. Guess what a vast majority of African Americans did for a living in the 30’s. Especially in the South. So he comprised. But the alternative was no SS.

White Southerners loved all the big government programs which lifted the most impoverished region of the country out of third world conditions. Until the 60’s. When another Democratic President, ironically a southerner, extended those benefits and more to people of color. Those southern democrats now make up the Republican Party in the south. As in the 30’s they value their privileged place in society over a healthy society.

I give FDR a pass he played the hand he was dealt. Not saying he was a civil rights champion. But he initially wanted his program to cover everyone. He wife sure as hell did. And I type this as a 54 year old Southern White Male.

The internment of the Japanese Americans? No excuse for that. He did not need the support of Southern Democrats to keep it from happening.