Teddy Roosevelt's Trust-Busting and Why America Needed Him

Theodore Roosevelt was the toughest man to occupy the Oval Office. He was a former Rough Rider who charged up San Juan Hill, hunted big game across two continents, and yes, was even the inspiration for the Teddy bear.

It's become fashionable on the Right to dismiss Roosevelt as just another big-government progressive, given his time “trust-busting.” But the history is more interesting and complicated, and reveals that Roosevelt was not anti-business, but rather against monopolistic practices that threatened America’s populace.

Let’s put things into context. America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was vastly different than today, with the Industrial Revolution introducing technologies that completely changed the fabric of the country — creating megacities, population booms, and vast sums of wealth that had never been seen in history.

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Jorge Rios5 months ago

God gives each one of us certain attribute and abilities that He intends to put to use in His timing to accomplish His plan. For such a time as this, God has placed people in a position to accomplish His work, Teddy Roosevelt then and Donald Trump today.

Bonnie Hissom5 months ago

Grateful for what Teddy Roosevelt instituted in America to make it a better, stronger, safer place to live. Especially gratefully for his preservation of America’s natural beauty.

Chris Campbell5 months ago

Teddy Roosevelt was a champion of the free market. This is central to conservative ideology. He understood that monopolies are bad, be they private or government.

Scott Connell5 months ago

He was the right man for the day! I feel Trump is the right man for today, but unlike Teddy, almost all of the media is against him and that's what shapes peoples opinion.

Stuart Denny5 months ago

TR understood that unfettered capitalism results in a oligarchy just as unjust and destructive as any autocracy, and he had the courage, vision, and strength to put the needed control in place. A man of wisdom, strength, character, and vision. How badly we need another TR.

Bob Hrebec5 months ago

I'm a fan of Teddy Roosevelt, big fan. But not his third party (Bull Moose) run allowing Wilson to become president and start the progressive liberal movement.

Don G5 months ago

Can we bring him back? Today the rich control government and the threat to public land is enormous.

sharon smith5 months ago

Wishing Trump had TR's zest for busting prices in the food industry. Now that inflation has those prices up so high and we are being forced to pay them... or starve... they will never come down. And that's more or less true of all today's prices. If we're willing to pay, shopkeepers will never lower them! Of course, they must recoup what they spent on their purchases by passing costs on to us, but still, I see that as a gamble on their part... sort of. We need some TR mentality to get us back to status quo.

Photo Man5 months ago

I do not understand your food cost complaint: " Best Affordability (Food Prices Relative to Income)When looking at food prices per capita weighed against average earnings, wealthy nations with high agricultural outputs take the lead.United States: Consistently leads the world, as the average household spends roughly $2,400 per year, equating to just over 6% of disposable income." If you are shopping at Trader Joe's and yours is priced like the one here, they are absurdly outrageously priced and the two times I have been there to check their pricing, I was amazed at how people were heaping up their big shopping carts. A person could go not very far and buy the same commodities at 1/3 to 1/2 of Trader Joe's prices.

Marsha Redden5 months ago

Agree. If you want to lower food costs you have to be willing to spend some time and energy in seeking those lower prices. They are out there, but not at Fresh Market or Publix

MOLLY FOSSETT5 months ago

Ms. Redden, you are assuming all have access, along with the health, finances, transportation, physical ability and electronic access to "spend some time and energy in seeking..".

Than Johnson5 months ago

Simplicity would say ‘Competition is good remedy for high costs’. Thank you President Bull Moose Roosevelt. Than

Doug Ebbecke5 months ago

Seems monopolies are bit anti capitalism as they tend to eliminate competition and can tend to create a bit more of a rich versus poor society, quite the opposite of free enterprise and capitalism. Competition helps keep the pricing down as all companies are trying to get as many customers as possible. If a start comes in with lower prices and has a comparable product and service they’ll grow and take customers from higher priced companies who in turn may lower their prices. It can be a win for the new business and the customers even if they don’t switch companies.