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Dolly E's avatar

This 14 August 1935 photo speaks volumes: https://www.usnews.com/photos/2024/08/12/the-birth-of-social-security-and-world-war-ii-nears-its-end-picturing-this-week-in-history-august-12-18 Appreciative that you were “allowed” to be in the photo. Take a bow Frances for all the work you spearheaded and accomplished for our country.

“U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signs the landmark Social Security Act in Washington, D.C., establishing the system that would provide economic benefits to retired workers, dependent children, and the unemployed. In his remarks at the signing, Roosevelt said “We can never insure one hundred percent of the population against one hundred percent of the hazards and vicissitudes of life, but we have tried to frame a law which will give some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.”

Nancy Schimmel's avatar

She's one of my heroines. She travelled around the country asking working people what they needed. The mayor of one town wouldn't let her hold a meeting on city property, so she held it at the post office. I used this story as an argument when we were fighting the closure of our downtown post office in Berkeley. We won!

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

Perkins certainly knew how to hold her own and forcefully sell her ideas, to the good of many of us. I certainly don't understand those Congresspeople who haven't seen to the continuation of these programs to mostly help ourselves. Just like the way costs have grown over the years, we should be paying more into these systems a little more over the years.

Carol Ann Habich-Traut's avatar

Let us remember history! Thanks! She was awesome!

Amy Greenblatt's avatar

Enjoyed the history lesson, thank you :-)

D Schmitt's avatar

I just returned home this Labor Day after a sign waive for all who labor. My sign was about the accomplishments of Frances Perkins. Multiple people commented and I got to explain who she was to three different sets of younger folks. More than a couple of people mentioned that now the administration is trying undo all those protections for the working people.

It was a good sign waive in Baltimore County MD (75-ish waivers) with high percentage of positive honks.

Also saw more younger people out waiving.

Also encouraging was families driving by with mom or dad driving and honking with the other adult pointing out signs and explaining to the kids what we were all about.

There is hope.