You are absolutely correct that he did not have dictatorial powers - but - he did attempt it. It’s a good thing we do have a checks and balances system. Unfortunately, he had a majority in Congress and the Supreme court that he was able to get many of these things passed.

Also - whether you like it or not, social security, medicare, and progressive taxes are fascist ideas. Check out the definition and the manifesto.

Also - when you really look at Smith’s works - he could be considered a classical socialist - not the type that was borne out of the French Revolution. I mean in that his works and his philosophy was all based on social interaction in The Theory of Moral Sentiments. He didn’t actually coin the phrase regarding free-markets the “invisible hand” until his publication of The Wealth of Nations. These works actually, in my opinion, contradict one another. In the first - he pushes for a social form of economics and labor and in the second he seems to push for the free-market economy. I think he might have been a bit “touched.”

“FDR instituted anti-competition policies”

Actually he and the legislator passed anti-trust policies that prevented robber barons from consolidating their grip on the american economy.

Social security medicare and progressive taxes are not fascist ideas, they are ideas that are shared by many different political systems including liberalism, progressivism, socialism, social democracy, etc, etc. Oh, and the concept of the progressive tax dates back to before Adam Smith (who while coining the phrase, “invisible hand” also argued for worker safety and progressive taxation).

“enforced pro-labor/union policies in to the economic mode”

Union at the time were asking to be paid a living wage and not have to work 20 hours a day. The great depression brought about many strikes, walkouts, and slow downs to stop dangerously unsafe working conditions and unfair employment practices.

“that helped drag out the Great Depression”

So says you and the CATO institute. For every economist you bring to the table that says the new deal dragged out the great depression I can bring one that says the new deal saved us from the great depression. To your one link I counter with Nobel Laureate in Economics Paul Krugman.

Your characterization of FDR is laughable were it not for the fact that you’re serious. One thing you forget to mention was that FDR did not have dictatorial powers or anywhere near. The recovery act did no take control of private industry, anti-trust laws did not force unionization, and almost all of these major policies were passed by the legislature.

This is a famous definition but worth reposting here maybe:

COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk.

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies.
You then employ someone else to do the work and you grab
all future profits to fund your indolent lifestyle.

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