Return to normalcy

Pres. Harding had campaigned on the call for a "return to normalcy," which meant restoring the pre-war (WWI) climate of low taxes, balanced budgets, manageable national debt, limited government, and a functioning international economy backed by the gold standard. As the new Secretary of the Treasury, under the new President, Calvin Coolidge, Andrew Mellon was tasked with bringing back these good old days. Mellon was highly successful because he wanted America to function like a successful business and felt that so long as Americans believed that "work is the only honorable occupation, and that life has more to offer than merely the spending of money on selfish enjoyment," there would be nothing to fear.

Gen. Patton knew about that "dreadful, blighting thing," called fear which spares "no class, nor cult, nor creed." In his poem, Patton wrote that all owe fear "homage" if we succumb to it. Unfortunately, Fear is the driving force in some Americans today. How could we not have seen it coming? We cannot afford to let it crush and claim more victims. No. Just say No.