Franklin D and Barack H..............have times really changed

This poem was sent to me by a friend who found it in their great grand father's attic....

The Devil’s Dilemma

A stranger stood at the gates of HELL

And the devil himself had answered the bell.

He looked him over from head to toe,

And said, “My friend, I’d like to know

What you have done in the line of sin

To entitle you to come within?”

Then Franklin D. with his usual guile

Stepped forth and flashed his toothy smile

“When I took charge in thirty three

A nation’s faith was mine,” said he.

“I promised this and I promised that

And I calmed them down with a fireside chat.

I spent their money on fishing trips

And I fished from the decks of their battle ships.

I gave them jobs on the PWA

THEN raised their taxes and took it away.

I killed their pigs and burned their crops,

I double crossed both old and young

And still the fools my praises sung.

I brought back beer and what do you think

I taxed it so high they couldn’t drink.

I furnished money with government loans

When they failed to pay I took their homes.

When I wanted to punish the folks you know

I’d put my wife on the radio.

I’d pay them to let their farms lie still

And imported food stuffs from Brazil.

I curtailed crops when I felt real mean

And shipped in corn from Argentine.

When they’d start to worry, stew and fret

I’d get them chanting the alphabet.

With the AAA and the CCC, the PWA and the NLB.

With these many units I got their goats

And still I crammed it down their throats.

My workers worked with the speed of snails

WHILE the taxpayers gnawed their finger nails.

When the organizers needed dough

I closed the plant for the CIO.

I ruined jobs and ruined health

And I Put the screws on the rich man’s wealth.

And some who couldn’t stand the gaff

Would call on me and how I’d laugh.

When they got too strong on certain things

I’d pack and head for old Warm Springs.

I ruined their country, their homes and then

I placed the blame on “Nine Old Men”

Now Franklin talked both long and loud

And the Devil stood, and his head he bowed.

At last he said, “Let’s make it clear

YOU’LL have to move, you can’t stay here.

For once you mingle with this mob

I’ll have to hunt myself a job.