Forget Trump, Australia Needs a ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt | Australian Markets

I’ve simply completed a e-book known as ‘The Bully Pulpit.’

It was a marathon learn—750 pages of tremendous print, with a lot of dense political content material.

It’s not my traditional kind of e-book, however I believed it had potential—and it did.

The e-book focuses on US President Roosevelt.

Not the well-known WWII period Franklin Roosevelt, however the lesser-known Theodore Roosevelt. He served as President from 1901 to 1909.

So, why did I decide it up?

It’s one of these books that provides you historical past classes however by way of a personal lens, a biographical account of Theodore towards the backdrop of essential occasions on the daybreak of a new century.

And the awakening of a new superpower.

Like at present, this was a essential time for America; the nation was rising because the world’s most important financial system—maybe the reverse of what’s taking place at present.

‘Teddy’ was a loud, outspoken chief who pushed the fringes among the many political elite.

He got here from a rich household however wasn’t scared to robust it out. He obtained his fingers soiled.

He labored as a rancher, fought towards Spain within the Cuban War of Independence, and lived off the land for months in America’s Western frontier.

He was every little thing the common political class wasn’t imagined to be back then…

This was a period of excessive privilege—these with money held the political pull.

While that is likely to be reminiscent of at present’s scenario, it appears it was far more seen back then; energy brokers had been a lot more forthright about bribery and corruption. And did little to cover it.

But Theodore flipped the dial… blasting his means into politics, partly by likelihood.

Thanks to his large appeal among the many public and guarantees to finish corruption, the facility elites had been caught off guard by his fast rise.

It was additionally when distinguished investigative journalists had been popping up, serving to Roosevelt’s trigger by spotlighting the nation’s deep corruption.

To control his disruptive affect, the political elite tried to keep him silent. To do this, they promoted him to Vice President of the nation.

A spot the place political ambitions tended to stagnate and die.

But they didn’t rely on a Presidential assassination

With the dramatic capturing of his predecessor, President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, a rancher and political cowboy, was instantly thrust into energy!

He now held the reins of probably the most highly effective nation on Earth.

The public was delighted with their new President; they’d obtained their man, whereas the political hierarchy’s plan had backfired monumentally. They knew what was coming…

Like at present, 120 years in the past, America was hungry for reform.

But in contrast to at present, Roosevelt wasn’t afraid to ship on his guarantees.

Roosevelt was America’s true ‘bull in a China shop!’

He quickly tore aside America’s strongest monopolies, together with Standard Oil, which was led by the formidable John D. Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest and strongest males ever to stroll this planet.

Roosevelt delivered what the public needed, and towards the chances.

He had the heart to interrupt up conglomerates and resist political bribes, all whereas surviving makes an attempt on his life.

But there are another fascinating parallels from 120 years in the past…

Tariffs had been reaching a boiling level within the American financial system.

Tariffs had been a sizzling matter back then, pitting the East towards the West.

The rich house owners of US manufacturing plants, primarily on the nation’s East Coast, supported America’s high tariffs. Tariffs sustained a market for American-made items, retaining them aggressive towards worldwide rivals.

Yet tariffs did nothing for the employees at these plants; they had been severely underpaid, labored long hours, and labored underneath harmful circumstances.

Tariffs had been additionally a main burden for the farmers, loggers, and miners on the nation’s West Coast.

Back then, tariffs had been a wealthy man’s agenda.

For all these causes, Roosevelt didn’t favour tariffs in any respect. He had a gentle spot for the working class.

His presidency left a legacy of decreasing these elevated tariffs, bettering working circumstances, breaking up the facility and corruption in US politics and the nation’s largest monopolies.

Which brings me to one thing I heard within the news not too long ago…

Australia’s richest particular person, Gina Rinehart, a mining magnate, known as for Australia to get its own Donald Trump.

But after ending this e-book, I’d argue we need a Theodore Roosevelt as an alternative!

Have a great weekend.

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