Siena College of Loudonville, NY, recently released survey results from "238 participating presidential scholars, historians and political scientists" who replied to their survey questionnaire and which purports to rank each of 43 presidents in several categories which closed with a final "Overall Rank."
Franklin D. Roosevelt got the top spot which shouldn't be a surprise considering that as presidential scholars, historians and political scientists they've consumed and are regurgitating the conventional wisdom of the profession. In ranking FDR number 1 in a handling the economy it's too bad they couldn't have consulted some economists like Russ Roberts or Robert Higgs who have helped dispel some of the FDR myth surrounding. Instead of helping end the Great Depression, FDR prolonged it by scaring business investors into hoarding what little money that might have had to invest. It's called "regime uncertainty," and it's an economy killer.
And wouldn't you know it, Obama is ranked as number 15. He got his highest rankings in communication skills, imagination and intelligence. Maybe they haven't noticed how he stammers and stumbles without the teleprompter. And there's intelligence. I'm reminded of something a wise woman told me before the election. "He's very intelligent, but he's not very smart." He's proven it to be true.
As for Obama's imagination, that's one I have to agree with. Anyone who can imagine that a big government centralized planning scheme can lead to prosperity certainly has a oversize imagination. In any event, Mr. Obama seems to be following in FDR's tracks in regard to the current economic situation. When will the historians learn from history?
And couldn't we see this coming a mile away? George W. Bush is ranked near the bottom.
There's been talk lately about a higher education bubble. These "presidential scholars, historians and political scientists" are right on the cutting edge of that bubble.
Links: Siena College survey announcement and report.
Comments