Roosevelt’s example is one SA should follow

Former US president created ‘a new deal’ for his people, writes Des du Triou.

In 1933, at the height of the great financial worldwide depression, newly elected American president Franklin D Roosevelt promised his people “a new deal”.

By harnessing the forces of government, finance, business, industry and labour unions and the American people, in an unselfish patriotic drive we’d call ubuntu, he created millions of jobs, lifting the poor out of abject poverty and the economy out of the doldrums.

His watchword was “there’s nothing to fear but fear itself”.

If we want to get out of the hole we’re in, we are going to have to ditch the petty politics and start working this ubuntu magic together, without fear or favour.

Otherwise we’re just dragging a tired donkey up a long hill.