Business Quote by Studs Terkel
““It’s a strange thing. This is only thirty-five years ago—Roosevelt, Wallace. We have a new generation in business today. Successful. It’s surprising how quickly they forget the assistance their fathers got from the Government. The Farm Bureau, which I helped organize in this state, didn’t help us in ’35. They take the same position today: we don’t need the Government. I’m just as sure as I’m sitting here, we can’t do it ourselves. Individuals have too many different interests. Who baled out the land banks when they were busted in the Thirties? It was the Federal””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Oral History of American Workers, 1970s
The speaker warns that newer generations forget past government aid and overestimate self‑reliance, risking policy failures.
In simple terms: People ignore past help and think they can do everything alone.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value past public support.
Themes
history
public policy
generational memory
self‑reliance
government aid
Mood
reflective
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- Policy debates
- education curricula
- community planning
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
Economic dependency
political ideology
social safety nets
Questions to Reflect On
- How does forgetting past aid affect current policy?
- What balance should exist between private initiative and government support?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on self‑reliance can ignore systemic needs.
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