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The government is now in a position to do what Franklin D…

“The government is now in a position to do what Franklin D. Roosevelt did during the Great Depression of the 1930s - use a crisis of the times to create new institutions that will last for generations. To this day, we are still subsidizing millionaires in agriculture because farmers were having a…” quote by Thomas Sowell
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“The government is now in a position to do what Franklin D. Roosevelt did during the Great Depression of the 1930s - use a crisis of the times to create new institutions that will last for generations. To this day, we are still subsidizing millionaires in agriculture because farmers were having a tough time in the 1930s.”

Thomas Sowell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Economic crises can be leveraged to build lasting institutions, but subsidies may persist beyond their original purpose.

In simple terms: Crises create lasting institutions; subsidies persist.

Key Takeaway

Use crises to build lasting institutions, reassess outdated subsidies.

Themes

economics policy history

Mood

critical analytical

Type

policy historical

When to use this quote

  • government budgeting
  • agricultural policy
  • institutional reform
  • public debate

Key Concepts

institution building public finance legacy effects

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance urgent reforms with long‑term fairness?
  • What mechanisms prevent outdated subsidies from lingering?
A Different Perspective

New institutions may face political resistance and unintended consequences.

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