Sir;....The right is empty of new ideas...That is what makes it the perfect echo chamber for old and tired ideas too often tried, and too often tolerated...Thanks...Sweeney

Mr. Sirota:
Having just read an article by Thomas Sowell (“Another Great Depression?”), I read your article (FDR Prolonged the Depression? Really?) with the preconceived notion that unemployment went up due to government intervention and not the market crash. As your article lead me in just the opposite direction, I came away confused once again. Attempting to get at the truth by reading factual(?) articles by seemingly intelligent people on both sides of an argument might not be such a good idea. As this is history we may, or may not, want to repeat it is important to get it right. I did some research on the Internet but could not find any sources (only spent about 45 minutes) that had unemployment figures earlier than 1948. This leads me to believe earlier figures would have to be generated by historical research. I would love to see a graph of actual numbers and their source. You stated that that unemployment declined almost every year in Roosevelt's first two terms. This sounds great. Mr. Sowell's source said this decline was very slow and never dropped below 20 percent. This does not sound so great.
I have a proposal. I will try to get a copy of this email to Mr. Sowell as well. If either of you can produce a graph of unemployment numbers from just beyond the start of the great Depression until recent times based on reliable sources, I will send you my prized Sammy Sosa bobblehead. If you both respond, we will have to talk. I will miss Sammy if either of you do respond. I assume you can get my email through this web site. I will make another offer as well. One thing I have learned is that no matter how crazy this life seems, I believe it is a blessing and we should enjoy it. As you both are obviously intelligent people I will treat each of you to dinner in our award winning downtown area if you are ever anywhere near Greenville, SC. This meal will include alcoholic beverages as I will make the assumption that those who write about our illustrious leaders in Washington do need a stiff drink every once in a while. I believe both diners would be very interesting and certainly worth the investment. If you both happen to be in town at the same time we will have to talk, as that threesome at the dinner table might be too interesting.
Calvin

I do not think you treated fairly the intellectual side that argues the Depression was prolonged by FDR's New Deal policies. For example, two UCLA economists argue effectively with data that FDR prolonged the economic rebound of the US by 7 years. Their arguments can be found here: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/FDR-s-Policies-Prolonged-Depression-5409.aspx