Friday, February 22, 2008

More great achievements…

…by a great Democratic President.

Of course, there was Medicare, but that just scratched the surface of the Johnson administration's commitment to the health of Americans. There was a new federal emphasis on research into cancer, strokes and heart disease. There was the Mental Health Facilities Act and new medical libraries. There was a Child Health Act and new Community Health clinics. New Clean Air and Clean Water acts had health as well as general environmental impacts.

There was more. The Creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development was match with new funding for public housing and the Fair Housing Act.

The military got its share of attention, with a GI pay raise and a new life insurance program for soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

Support for education, including higher education, was expanded. Farmers got relief from the boom and bust cycle of harvest with a four year farm support system. Cities got more help for high speed transit. While others would claim the 'lawnorder' mantle, it was President Johnson and a Democratic Congress that offered Law Enforcement Assistance, the National Crime Commission and the Juvenile Delinquency Act.

Public lands got another boost with the creation of the Assateague National Seashore and the Whiskeytown National Recreational Area, and the trip to see them was enhanced by the Highway Beauty Act (God bless Ladybird).

There was the Voting Rights Act, too, and a Social Security increase, and the Fair Immigration Law. Internationally, there were new initiatives in arms control and a strengthening of the United Nations Charter.

Some career, huh?

Not really. That was just 1965.

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home