Dr. Seuss Economics: “I do not like this Uncle Sam”
By Jonathan Bean • Wednesday August 25, 2010 5:48 AM PDT • 5 Comments
I normally do not circulate “viral email” but these rebellious ditties remind me of what circulated in the run up to the 1938 election—an election that walloped the New Deal upside the head (although existing programs remained in place). Source: Origin unknown.
Following this Dr. Seuss post is some anti-New Deal humor. Critics of the New Deal normally referenced Alice in Wonderland Economics when talking about the New Deal. Today it is Dr. Seuss Economics.
Enjoy!
2010:
I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks, or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker, Nan ,
I do not like this ‘YES WE CAN’.
I do not like this spending spree,
I’m smart, I know that nothing’s free,
I do not like your smug replies, when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!
1930s:
“‘Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the land,
The ballots were ready, the polls fully manned
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
Because good St. Franklin soon would be there.
The people were snuggled all warm in their beds
With visions of alphabet plums in their heads;
And voters were dreaming of how, the next day,
They’d march to the polls for old PWA
When the jingle of sleigh bells was heard from afar
And swift through the night roared a big White House car
From out of the packages, piled high to see
Shone the bright, smiling face of the good Saint F.D.
Each bulging package a dollar sign wore
And down every chimney he poured them, galore....
And they heard him exclaim, as he flew out of sight;
‘Merry Christmas to all–and be sure you vote right!”
***
“Roosevelt is my shepherd; I am in want
He maketh me to lie down on park benches;
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He disturbeth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of destruction for his Party’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of recession,
I anticipate no recovery
For he is with me;
His promises and pipe dreams they no longer fool me.
He preparest a reduction in my salary in the presence of my creditors:
He anointeth my small income with taxes;
Surely unemployment and poverty shall follow me all the days of the New Deal
And I will dwell in a mortgaged house forever.”
Source: George Wolfskill and John A. Hudson, All But the People: Franklin D. Roosevelt and His Critics, 1933-1939 (1969)
Tags: Budget and Tax Policy, Business, Economics, Elections, Presidential Power, Uncategorized 
I do not like Republicans.
I do not like them, not a fan. Preach family values when they
can,
while he’s sleeping with another man.
I do not like when they exclude.
I do not like them because they’re rude.
I do not like them. They love the rich!
And Sarah Palin is quite a bitch.
I do not like the rhetoric, hypocrisy or Tricky Dick.
I do not like misguided wars,
nation building or that dummy George.
I do not like them, not a fan.
I do not like them man oh man!
Phillip Holmes | Aug 19, 2011 | Reply
If you don’t like the rich, then be poor. For those of use who still hold the American Dream, stay the hell out of our way!
Jaime | Aug 19, 2011 | Reply
Dr. Über-Rich
I do not like this Uncle Sam,
In fact I only like who I am,
I care only for those who are like me
whose only interest is more money.
I ignore truth proven by the data
So I can add gasses to the upper strata
my planet’s future concerns me not
I just plug my ears and fill my pot
more gold for me– that’s all that matta
If you suffer from my mistakes
from chemical leaks to bad air intake
to crappy stuff that falls apart
and high fat food that stops the heart
shortcuts that give me lots more cash
but weakens rigs and coal mine shafts
More health care, I’ll will make you pay
and wipe out Unions every day,
and federal regulations– please take away.
I have no morals for that is true
but I will make some up and say they’re true
that way when voting time is due
you’ll put my man in power too.
I love to use hyperbole
it scares you from the truth, you see
So the representatives that I’ve bought
will get me more, but you’ll get naught.
Be happy you work for my company
cuz if you don’t I’ll move overseas
there are plenty of people to exploit, you see...
...and if over there, there is unrest
You’ll be sent on my behest
So I don’t lose my piece of pie,
No matter if you’re maimed or die.
I make sexy ads so you will think
(and even though my products stink)
you need them badly – no room for reason
not buying is a form of treason.
I take your money and with it gamble
but if my bets turn to a shamble
Bailing me out may make you wail,
But, “Hey there dude, I’m too big to fail!”
Through the decades my earnings soared
while all of yours’ were simply ignored
When times get tough though, give me more
or I’ll lay you off and make you poor
then less taxes will be collected
-no problem – public jobs will be rejected,
but my tax rate will be protected.
So middle class can race to the bottom,
but capital, income, wealth... i got ‘em,
You think if I am richer you’ll get more too,
you ignore the trend from ‘82.
I do not like Uncle Sam, it’s true
Whenever he’s protecting you.
But I do like Uncle Sam you see,
when he is there protecting me.
Rick | Sep 9, 2011 | Reply