Here at My Patriot Supply, we have a deep passion for the lessons that history can teach us.

These lessons from history inform who we are as a company and how we advise and help loyal customers like you prepare.

Now that we have a newly-inaugurated president, I thought today would be a fitting time to take a look back to the beginning of another presidency.

It was a crucial time in our country's history, and it is my hope that we can learn from it to help us prepare for the future.

BEWARE ROSY PRONOUNCEMENTS AND ABSOLUTE PREDICTIONS

Before we get started, one quick caveat. Here at My Patriot Supply, we don't pick sides in politics. It's not because we don't have opinions about politicians. But rather, our allegiance is to American patriots, first and foremost. Helping folks like you become more self-reliant, safe and free is our one and only mission. However, it's nearly impossible to talk about history without talking about the players - especially leaders - involved.

That being said, let's go all the way back to 1928. We'll start with a quote:

"We in America today are nearer to the final triumph
over poverty than ever before in the history of any land."

This quote came from the man who had just won the Republican nomination and would become the 31st President of the United States: Herbert Hoover. It's from his nomination acceptance speech and would come to haunt him, as we'll see shortly.

After being elected, Hoover echoed a similar pronouncement in his inaugural address:

"In the large view, we have reached a higher degree of comfort and security than ever existed before in the history of the world. Through liberation from widespread poverty we have reached a higher degree of individual freedom than ever before."

Back then, presidents were inaugurated in March - it wasn't until FDR's 2nd term that presidents were sworn in in January. So, Hoover made this pronouncement a mere 8 months before the stock market crash would plunge America into the Great Depression.

It's important to note that Hoover wasn't lying - at least not exactly. Many, like him, believed that America's "Roaring Twenties" would never end. Depression was ravaging World War I-torn Europe and other nations around the globe. But the majority of folks never believed it would reach our shores.

In fact, some time after the Depression became a stark reality, Hoover announced this in a radio address:

"The depression has been deepened by events from abroad which are beyond the control either of our citizens or our government."

Despite the fact that Hoover was now admitting to an economic downturn, the cause was not due to factors from within our economy - like dangerous banking practices. Again, he wasn't distorting the truth, but he wasn't exactly right, either.

Hoover worked hard to recover the economy. Yet, most Americans were dissatisfied with the results of his efforts.

As he campaigned for re-election in 1932, he returned to making rosy pronouncements in a campaign speech called "The Success of Recovery":

"It can be demonstrated that the tide has turned and that the gigantic forces of depression are today in retreat. Our measures and policies have demonstrated their effectiveness. They have preserved the American people from certain chaos. They have preserved a final fortress of stability in the world."

This time, Americans wanted to listen to the rosy pronouncements of a different man, one who offered them a "New Deal." Thus, Franklin D. Roosevelt took Hoover's place in the Oval Office.

It would be years before the economy recovered to 1929 levels. Many factors lead to that recovery - not just the new presidents' New Deal.

Here's the lesson we must take to heart: beware rosy pronouncements and absolute predictions - especially when they come from those who are expected to lead us.

You can't blame Hoover for making those pronouncements. He believed them. He had reason to believe them. And in order to get elected, he had to speak them with conviction.

That's why it's our responsibility as citizens to be skeptical of these pronouncements.

After all, it's our personal duty to ensure our own self-reliance, liberty and prosperity. It is also our duty to vote for people we believe in - and their rosy pronouncements. But ultimately, the heavy lifting is on us.

Living a self-reliant lifestyle is absolutely crucial, no matter who is in office. In fact, it's how most people survived, even thrived during the Great Depression.

Have you heard the phrase "History repeats itself?" It's pretty common, and seemingly easy to understand, but it's a bit too simplistic. History doesn't literally repeat itself. Rather, certain scenarios or situations will recur and cause similar events from our past.

With that in mind, there are some interesting similarities between the scenario under President Hoover and what we see now with President Trump. Both were successful businessmen. Hoover, Trump and William Taft are the only three men to be elected President having never been elected to national office nor served as military generals. Finally, the last time Republicans controlled both Congress and the Presidency, before now? 1928, with President Hoover.

Of course, there are plenty of differences between Presidents Trump and Hoover. Their rosy pronouncements are different, though both made great promises to the American people.

As patriotic citizens, we wish our Presidents well in their efforts to make good on their promises. But it's also our duty to ensure these promises for ourselves and by ourselves.

Make 2017 the year and this the moment you become more self-reliant than ever before. We'll be here to help you every step of the way. Our preparedness experts are standing by at 866.229.0927 - including Patriot Larry.

Have a great weekend, friends. Stay safe and alert out there!

In Liberty,

Patriot Scott
My Patriot Supply

Sources:

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5063/
http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres48.html