AF Atlanta: Was 1913 the Worst Year Ever?

On October 22nd, AF Atlanta hosted Carl Oberg, Chief Operating Officer at the The Foundation for Economic Education, for a presentation entitled “1913: Not Just The Fed and Income Tax.” Carl spoke to a very interested crowd in a packed room of over 50 attendees.

Mr. Oberg explained that the year 1913 is often cursed in free market circles for being the year in which the Federal Reserve, the Income Tax, the direct election of Senators, and the Woodrow Wilson administration came into being. As such, many liberty-minded people conclude that 1913 was the year that “ruined everything.”

With that in mind, Carl decided to tailor his presentation to talk about other events that happened in order to give attendees a fuller and more realistic picture of the year. As he discussed various events, the audience was given a picture of change and advancement that occurred in areas as wide-ranging as art, music, architecture and business. For example, 1913 was the year in which Henry Ford began to use the assembly line to produce the Ford Model T, a feat which would strongly impact the future of the automobile industry.

Mr. Oberg argued that no year is essentially different from any other year, and pointed out that in areas where society was more free and able to adapt and accept change, conditions tended to improve.

Interested in learning about AF opportunities or events in your area? Check out our Local Chapter Highlights to learn more!

Kathryn Shelton is the Director of Chapter Advancement for America’s Future.