“The methods adopted since the World War with the purpose of achieving greater temperance by the forcing of Prohibition have been accompanied in most parts of the country by complete and tragic failure. I need not point out to you that general encouragement of lawlessness has resulted; that corruption, hypocrisy, crime, and disorder have emerged, and that instead of restricting, we have extended the spread of intemperance. This failure has come for this very good reason: we have depended too largely upon the power of governmental action instead of recognizing that the authority of the home and that of the churches in these matters is the fundamental force on which we must build...But the President has, at last, learned what the facts have shown these many years—that laws opposed by majority sentiments ‘create resentment which undermines enforcement and in the end produces degeneration and crime.’” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Campaign Speech, New Jersey, August 27, 1932

Use the passing of the 18th amendment and then its repeal through the 21st amendment, and the above excerpt from FDR’s campaign speech to evaluate the role of the federal government in passing legislation regarding matters of public health or benefit. Do you think FDR was correct? What did FDR mean when he talked about “recognizing the authority of the home and that of the churches...”? How did he invoke, with this phrase, popularly held notions regarding the “homestead,” land ownership, and individual rights and responsibilities in this statement coming from the 19th century? How should a government balance the rights and needs of minority members of a nation, society, or community with broad public concerns? How does that relate to one law or policy that you would support (meaning you would be in the majority on the issue) and one law or policy that you would oppose (meaning you would be in the minority on the issue) on the basis of your individual needs, concerns, or rights?