NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/bit/listserv/history/6182

Text File | 1992-12-29 | 1.8 KB | 34 lines

Comments: Gated by [e-mail]
Path: sparky!uunet!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!paladin.american.edu!auvm!ERS.BITNET!HADY
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.history
Date:         Tue, 29 Dec 1992 14:10:56 EST
Sender:       History <[e-mail]>
From:         TOM HADY <[e-mail]>
Subject:      Re: Does knowing history make any difference in policy?
In-Reply-To:  Message of Thu,
              24 Dec 1992 13:57:33 GMT from <[e-mail] IO-STATE.EDU>
Lines: 21

 Thu, 24 Dec 1992 13:57:33 GMT Austin Kerr said:
>Expressed another way: is it important that historians play a role in advising
>policy makers?
Speaking from the vantage of 31 years in economic research in support
of federal policy, yes, I think it is.  You'll never find the evidence
if you go looking at Presidents and ask for instances in which they made
a decision based on their knowledge of history, though.  Most decisions
Presidents make are too complicated, with too many interests to
satisify, to categorize that clearly.  I've seen numerous cases of data
and analysis we have put together being used (sometimes by conflicting
interests) in the policy debate, though.  To cite an example from the
history side (my branch includes both economists and historians), every
five years or so when the farm bill comes up for renewal we update our
history of farm programs, and it generally gets good use.  Of course,
I'm also reminded of a comment of one of my history professors, many
years ago: "When someone starts out 'History proves,' I reach for my
hat."

--TOM HADY, National Economy & History Branch, Economic Research Service
   U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE -- VOICE: 202-219-0780  FAX: [phone]
           BITNET: HADY@ERS  INTERNET: [e-mail]