Religion and Ethics and Health BBS

Religion and Ethics and Health BBS
[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much..."

Posted by Ken C on June 13, 2026, 8:01 am

This is a good old quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt

I like how he wants to help the poor. I also like how he does not say we need to take from the rich to help the poor. Sometimes rich entrepreneurs create new companies that help the poor and they help the poor while also making a profit for themselves. That's good because they are helping the poor.

"We are determined to make every American citizen the subject of his country’s interest and concern; and we will never regard any faithful law-abiding group within our borders as superfluous. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."- Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1937)

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-pima-ushistory2/chapter/primary-source-second-inaugural-address-of-franklin-d-roosevelt-1937/

I agree, and another President (Kennedy) said what I think is

Posted by observer on June 13, 2026, 10:28 am, in reply to ""The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much...""

obvious: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”. When ethics are ignored, no theory works well. Corporate greed and Somali graft are both disastrous. In both cases ethical principles and oversight are called for. Once again virtue is found somewhere on the continuum between two vices, the generosity that falls between stinginess/greed and spendthrift -iness?/extravagant wastefulness.

« Back to index

[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]