I just found out that BtB is hosted by one of my favorite former [cracked.com](https://cracked.com) writers. Robert Evans, the guy who was interviewing people with interesting jobs.
I’m reading The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York right now and it’s enthralling! It’s a 900-page beast and so worth it if you have that kinda time.
Thanks for the recommendation. I know about him from videos so I figure d I'd anger myself by reading more about him. Theres a free pdf of the book on pdfrock
To truly understand Robert Moses you gotta read the Power Broker…
About his personal traits , we could say he inherited all the bad traits from his mother, where his mother inherited all those bad traits from her mother too. They all had the mentality “they knew what was best for everyone”, were really stubborn, and got really mad when you did not agree to them. In this way Robert Moses would usually never consult his work with anyone but himself. At first he was really interested in his work, and put a lot of thought into it, but then he just started doing public works because they gave him power, oh he loved power. Of course he was a racist and classist, and even with his own people (he was of Jewish descent, but he always denied this), and family (he literally fucked over his brother, by denying him his mother will, and then started to shit talk about her mother even tho she gave him money to LIVE until his 30s). In respect with cars he was pretty blind. First of all he never learned how to drive, and second of all he had another perspective of cars. In the 1920s cars were more like a luxury and hobby, mostly people with means had them, and they used them mostly to relax. Fast forward to 1940s and 1950s this was no longer the case. People used cars to commute and it converted into a “chore”, driving was no longer enjoyable, but how could he know if he was always being chauffeured in his black Cadillac? Anyway he literally started to become deaf as he got older (ironic), which just worsened things, and he eventually got so blinded by power he himself was the main reason he lost all of it.
Does “Power Broker” or do you know of any other sources/references that discuss more in depth the public opinion of cars in the 20s to 40s and onwards? General U.S. history makes people seem complicit in the transition to car dependency but I have a sneaking suspicion it was more complicated than that.
Jamie Kitman's series on the history of gasoline talks a bit about this from a different angle. There was very much a conspiracy to shape public opinion in order to sell more cars and more oil.
The power broker has a pretty good explanation of how cars were perceived by society when they first arrived and how that perception changed through time. I don’t know much about other books that talk about this, but it makes sense that cars used to be perceived as carriages first, they were nice to go for a stroll. That’s also why Moses firsts works were “parkways” they were beautifully landscaped for the enjoyment of motorists, ( back then speeds were not as high, so you could appreciate —for a few more seconds— your surroundings.).
The only "good" thing he ever did was the 60's New York World's Fair.
But we all know he did that to sell cheap crap and help fund his gentrification projects.
There's no central board that determines what is a real or fake World Fair. You just declare you're throwing a World's Fair and hope you can get enough people on board for it not to be a fiasco.
Historical speculation is always speculative. It's entirely possible to have preserved beach access for the public on Long Island without having Robert Moses.
it wasn't officially sanctioned by the body that governs it cause Moses wanted to charge high rents and the rules said you couldn't charge rents or something like that
Now once there was a little old man
With a funny crooked nose
He lived down in a log hut
And we called him ol’ man Moses
One dark and dreary morning
I knocked upon his door
Well, I didn’t hear a single sound
So I ain’t gonna do it no more
'Cos, I believe (old man)
Yes, I believe (old man)
I do believe (old man)
That ol' man Moses is dead
Whoa! I believe (old man)
I sure believe (old man)
Yes, I believe (old man)
That old man Moses is dead
Just learned about this asshole from Behind the Bastards. To think he was allowed to destroy so much and wasn't even elected.
But but Yale… but but… discrimination! His life wasn’t easy!!! Why should he ever want to make it easier for the poors???
I just found out that BtB is hosted by one of my favorite former [cracked.com](https://cracked.com) writers. Robert Evans, the guy who was interviewing people with interesting jobs.
It gets “better” when you found out large pockets of NY, especially on LI, still worship the guy
I’m reading The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York right now and it’s enthralling! It’s a 900-page beast and so worth it if you have that kinda time.
One of the greatest achievements in nonfiction writing ever, IMO
Reading that book or writing it?
Just finished his rise now reading about the fall of nyc
Thanks for the recommendation. I know about him from videos so I figure d I'd anger myself by reading more about him. Theres a free pdf of the book on pdfrock
Fuck Robert Moses! i am not a bot but there should be a Fuck Robert Moses bot
I agree, there does need to be a Fuck Robert Moses bot.
To truly understand Robert Moses you gotta read the Power Broker… About his personal traits , we could say he inherited all the bad traits from his mother, where his mother inherited all those bad traits from her mother too. They all had the mentality “they knew what was best for everyone”, were really stubborn, and got really mad when you did not agree to them. In this way Robert Moses would usually never consult his work with anyone but himself. At first he was really interested in his work, and put a lot of thought into it, but then he just started doing public works because they gave him power, oh he loved power. Of course he was a racist and classist, and even with his own people (he was of Jewish descent, but he always denied this), and family (he literally fucked over his brother, by denying him his mother will, and then started to shit talk about her mother even tho she gave him money to LIVE until his 30s). In respect with cars he was pretty blind. First of all he never learned how to drive, and second of all he had another perspective of cars. In the 1920s cars were more like a luxury and hobby, mostly people with means had them, and they used them mostly to relax. Fast forward to 1940s and 1950s this was no longer the case. People used cars to commute and it converted into a “chore”, driving was no longer enjoyable, but how could he know if he was always being chauffeured in his black Cadillac? Anyway he literally started to become deaf as he got older (ironic), which just worsened things, and he eventually got so blinded by power he himself was the main reason he lost all of it.
Does “Power Broker” or do you know of any other sources/references that discuss more in depth the public opinion of cars in the 20s to 40s and onwards? General U.S. history makes people seem complicit in the transition to car dependency but I have a sneaking suspicion it was more complicated than that.
Jamie Kitman's series on the history of gasoline talks a bit about this from a different angle. There was very much a conspiracy to shape public opinion in order to sell more cars and more oil.
The power broker has a pretty good explanation of how cars were perceived by society when they first arrived and how that perception changed through time. I don’t know much about other books that talk about this, but it makes sense that cars used to be perceived as carriages first, they were nice to go for a stroll. That’s also why Moses firsts works were “parkways” they were beautifully landscaped for the enjoyment of motorists, ( back then speeds were not as high, so you could appreciate —for a few more seconds— your surroundings.).
Uh oh somebody’s been listening to Behind the Bastards
Reading the biography of this 'individual' you can say cars are also a tool for racism.
My father venerated this man because of his racism and bigotry. Disgusting.
Reminds me I should keep reading "The Power Broker"
i'll read it when there is a kindle version
I'm happy Portland told that guy to fuck off when he released a plan for a highway system in Portland.
The only "good" thing he ever did was the 60's New York World's Fair. But we all know he did that to sell cheap crap and help fund his gentrification projects.
wasn't that the fake world's fair? like it wasn't an official one and he only set it up to make money?
There's no central board that determines what is a real or fake World Fair. You just declare you're throwing a World's Fair and hope you can get enough people on board for it not to be a fiasco.
I first learned of Robert Moses from a D&D show called The Unsleepiny City lmao
Ah yes, evil lich Robert Moses
I just listened to this fully not realizing he was a real person… this post was eye opening!
This is one of the many reasons I can’t stand Long Island. Such a disgusting place.
HIstory memes is a mixed bag. Sometimes, you get based stuff like this, and other times it's just blatant fascist rhetoric.
Thought I was in r/The_Leftorium for a second
for all his faults, there are some amazing beaches in long island that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for him
Historical speculation is always speculative. It's entirely possible to have preserved beach access for the public on Long Island without having Robert Moses.
it wasn't officially sanctioned by the body that governs it cause Moses wanted to charge high rents and the rules said you couldn't charge rents or something like that
Ooh, they do meme good.
Never knew who this bastard was until I watched the Edward Norton movie, ‘Motherless Brooklyn’.
Fucking asshole fuck him and that stupid beach named after him
Where’s Maggie.
That's guy's a dick.
Learned about Robert Moses from the Unsleeping City. Wild dude.
Now once there was a little old man With a funny crooked nose He lived down in a log hut And we called him ol’ man Moses One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door Well, I didn’t hear a single sound So I ain’t gonna do it no more 'Cos, I believe (old man) Yes, I believe (old man) I do believe (old man) That ol' man Moses is dead Whoa! I believe (old man) I sure believe (old man) Yes, I believe (old man) That old man Moses is dead
As a fellow Jew I actually kind of like this guy.