Those who fail to learn from history . . .

History is a tough subject for a lot of people.  While I find it fascinating, whatever era I'm studying, some people find it boring.  Others just completely ignore it.

For example, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), talking about New Deal and Great Society legislation like Social Security and Medicare:

These programs actually weakened us as a people. You see, almost forever, it was institutions in society that assumed the role of taking care of one another. If someone was sick in your family, you took care of them. If a neighbor met misfortune, you took care of them. You saved for your retirement and your future because you had to. We took these things upon ourselves in our communities, our families, and our homes, and our churches and our synagogues. But all that changed when the government began to assume those responsibilities. All of a sudden, for an increasing number of people in our nation, it was no longer necessary to worry about saving for security because that was the government’s job.  LINK

You see, this is where a knowledge of history should kick in.  Because if you know history, you understand that Sen. Rubio is an asshat spouting gibberish.

For these programs weren't enacted by President Obama as part of his "socialist takeover" of America.  These programs were enacted by Americans because THEY WERE NEEDED.  Neighbors and families and private institutions weren't taking sufficient care of people.  During the Depression, old people especially were going broke, not getting medical treatment, losing their homes, and generally living in squalor and poverty.  THIS WAS A BAD THING. 

Americans of the time looked at this problem -- and yes, it is a problem when millions of Americans can't feed or house themselves -- and decided that private institutions couldn't carry all the weight.  If we all give up a little, they thought, then we can lift these Americans up so they can live better lives.  And guess what?  WE ALL BENEFIT.

We all benefit from lower crime, lower healthcare costs, and a more stable society.  But more than that, taking care of others less fortunate is THE RIGHT THING TO DO.  You see, we empathize with others and want people to do well.  And we take comfort in the thought that if we're in similar straits, we have that safety net.  And these programs have been overwhelmingly successful and popular.

And lest someone say that the need for these programs is over, all I can say is REALLY?  REALLY?

So Senator Rubio is clearly talking without having a clear understanding of what he's saying.  But he's just one guy.  No one else feels this way, do they?

Here's Texas Governor and Republican Presidential candidate, Rick Perry to put Rubio in his place.

And listen, how many people in here are less than 50 years old in this audience? All right, I got in trouble by asking that question right off the bat, there, but these young kids who are coming along, they know for a fact there’s not going to be a Social Security and Medicare program. They know that.

So we have to have an adult conversation with this country. We have to talk about how are we going to transfer over. How are we going to make the transformation.  LINK