76-17-B6
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1977
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NEA[edit]
Transcript[edit]Last November in Houston, Texas more than 100 executives representing that many of the biggest corporations in America met with representatives of the National Education Association. The purpose of the meeting was to see if business and industry can help in the education of your America. Now, that shows a gratifying public-spirited attitude on the part of the business community, so much so that one wonders if the businessmen took time to learn what the N.E.A.'s attitude might be. They might have discovered that improved education could begin with the National Education Association itself. Some would no doubt be surprised to learn that N.E.A. is a giant teachers' union, a powerful lobbying force in Washington, and its principal goal is the federalization of the public school system. N.E.A. not only doesn't believe education should be entrusted to local school boards, it doesn't think parents should have anything to say about their children's learning. But over and beyond this one wonders if the industrialists know what N.E.A. thinks of them. They can find out very easily by reading a publication co-sponsored by N.E.A. It is called, "A Working Economy for Americans". The first thing this startling bit of fiction (posing as fact) tells us is that our economic system is a failure and guess who is to blame. You don't have to guess. "A Working Economy for Americans" tells you on virtually every page; that "malfunctions and shortcomings" in our economic system cause serious problems and that -- QUOTE -- "In large part these national crises stem from the increasing concentration of American business". -- UNQUOTE. The pursuit of profit is blamed for -- QUOTE -- "unemployment, inflation, inequality, urban decay, discrimination, unsafe products and work places, pollution and environmental decay and the increasing powerlessness of consumers. All of these stem from the nature of our economy". -- UNQUOTE. And this N.E.A.-sponsored publication has the answer as to how to change the "nature of our economy". It calls for complete government control, redistribution of earnings, government-owned banks and dismemberment of large corporations -- among other things. Here are some verbatim quotes: "For some very large corporations, recessions from time to time may actually be welcomed. This is because many firms enjoy substantial control over their markets, making them largely invulnerable to economic swings. Unemployment diminishes the aggressiveness of the labor unions in bargaining for improved wages and working conditions." Here is another: "Many items of doubtful utility or short life -- automobiles calculated to fall apart after two years, a glut of cosmetics and deodorants are produced that admittedly make a lot of money for manufacturers, but have little value for consumers." -- UNQUOTE -- They explain why we suckers buy them too. We are brainwashed by high-powered advertising. Then we are told that the depression of the Thirties -- with all its human misery -- would never have been ended if the government hadn't intervened with -- QUOTE -- "New Deal jobs, public works programs, unemployment compensation and Social Security" -- UNQUOTE. What they don't tell us is that after all those things were tried we still had the human misery of 25 percent unemployment and only World War II ended the depression -- a very high-priced cure. The most blatant line, however, is that corporations influence government and threaten democracy itself. That -- from N.E.A., an organization which spent $2 million of its members dues last year to elect its friends to office. Read "A Working Economy for Americans" or how Fascism can come to America. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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