The New Deal Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

Authors* in writing of the New Deal,
Describe the Liberal Embellishment of Hell,
We've been there in times before
It was of mock Hudibras' lore.

When Vogel** poked fun at those
Who were Democrats, (I suppose)
Educated beyond their own intelligence
And lacking any common sense.

So it was that Vogel did write
The 'A Modern Hudibras' in spite
As he saw the error of their ways
That came in those Glory Days
When Franklin could do no wrong
Mostly because he favored both sides of the coin.

Experimenting with Communistic doctrine
To see if Wallace and Hopkins were Stalin's next of kin.
The government's Administrations
Spread like a prairie fire without suppression
Until all was in danger of collapse
Like a patient in relapse.
Then by saving grace,
Hitler rose up and saved FDR's face.

Now we have a new educator* of the sort
That hasn't read the literature to report
That perhaps others may have criticized FDR
After too many drinks at the BAR***.
The lady's right as she can be
Embracing, Vogel's writing of History.

And what of Schlesinger and his fame
Well, he's authored many a book under his name
And embellished Franklin's character without fail
Even though in his heart must have know full well
That the villain of the opera
Was Hover cast there as a Soprano
Like the actors of today, who glory in the violence of that era.
(And at least one presidential hopeful gives a wink)
That their antics may have a post-term stink
All is permissible, if you please
So long as the Republican villain's made to flee.
Then, they can regain the mantle of the past
And institute the agendas at long last
Battering free enterprise into submission
As agencies enlarge and rule by Congressional emancipation.

How then will this all play out in the years to come?
Depends on just how many of the voters are truly dumb,
And support those who promise pie in the sky
Passing off burdens to others, bye the bye.

* The Wall Street Journal, Amity Shlaes, June 25,2007, pp A15
** A Modern Hudibras (The New Deal in Rime) , Ulysses Grant Vogan, Blach Publishing Company, Athens, Pennsylvania,1939 (81pp)
*** BAR - Born a Republican

From A Modern Hudibras:
'See those who march in strident manner
Beneath the garish New Deal banner,
And cast their eyes on clouds of mist
In search of goals that don't exist;
Cocksure of things that are not true,
Entranced by what is weird and new,
Till ‘twould appear these devotees
have caught some cerebral disease,
Which blurs their minds with some confusion,
And makes them seek a wrong conclusion.'
pp4

'It is our plan all folks to cheer
By saying what they want to hear;
And, when we meet a worried group,
That say they're floundering in the soup,
Because all prices are too low,
We promise them, with much ado,
That we'll adopt some new devices
To guarantee them higher prices.'

Next day, we meet some delegates,
for whom their spokesman loudly states
Disaster stares them in the eye,
Because all prices are too high.
Of course, as sympathy bestower,
I say that prices should be lower,
And that on profiteers I'll hop,
And quickly make those prices drop.'
pp 43

'To pay the debt, we'll tax the wealthy.
Of course, we know ‘tis truly said
That taxes over all are spread;
And, while this axiom we know,
We always say that soft and low;
And ‘round elections in the Fall,
We never mention it at all.'
pp 45