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June 27, 2009 It’s a concept that no one really wants to admit is happening now, A revisit to the 1930s deep depression. We began the same way with banks failing, stocks crashing to the floor, business going under. People en mass are laid off from work, and no hope of coming out of it or even getting a job. There are some major differences between the past depressions and now. Granted we have a bigger population, people are different workers, and while we had a dustbowl we used different farming techniques to prevent dustbowl conditions. We no longer have share croppers or American seasonal workers( these were the Oakies from Oklahoma in the 30s that the Grapes of Wrath talked about). So aside from the old cars, black and white film and environmental conditions nothing is different! Say it, Depression. What we do have that we had only an inkling of before during the depression was Home relief, CC, WPA projects were started to give hope, work and encouragement to those who got into the programs. Home relief now is welfare and Food stamps, CCC and WPA should be brought back to encourage work and get work done. There are a few reasons why this happened again. First History is bound to repeat itself. A warning we all should remember. Second we import too many goods and do not stimulate our own economy. We as a population have lost a desire for dirty handwork. Opting for high tech, informatics and other upper level jobs. One thing that made coming out of a depression before monies were spent on producing tanks, airplanes, helicopters, items of need for our military. A true war like WW2, or even WWI brought the people together hoisted up their garters and dug in. We supported not by ribbons but by producing those things that made sure our people came home and had what they needed when they did. Not the case now. We have become a society and culture of how do I do that now? And what is sad is that no one is going to stop the train of catastrophe any time soon. Putting money into military needs for those who were sent to a place that really is only a foothold is what we need. Boys and girls need better equipment. They need armor plating on vehicles, helmets, better everything! Why do we as parents and loved ones have to buy flak jackets, helmet liners, socks and other needed items? I thought government spending on military was supposed to provide our people what they need in order to fight. Something s very wrong. The government sends them but then ask their parents and families to buy them goods that they need. Put money into our military needs so that our kids, husband’s and wives can come home safe is where a stimulus package should go. Look at the history of depressions. Money was funneled into companies that produced needed military goods, Not bailing out auto makers or banks. Banks have insurance. Auto makers would do better if they didn’t make the vehicles so prohibitive and costly. Ford had an idea, A vehicle that was affordable to everyone, A simple idea that did work for a while. If they made a car that was simple, cost effective would allow a person to go to work, keep more money in their pocket and thereby stimulate the economy by spending and making needs from manufacturers. Hello. How do you expect so many to go to work if they are working only for that vehicle? Now that people are loosing their jobs how can they still affords to make payments on a car they cant even afford to put fuel in? Welfare checks don’t go to covering vehicle payments. So where does it end and become reasonable again? The ideas of the 20, and 30s on coming out of the depression will still work. Bring back the CCC and WPA projects. Instead of funneling money into corporations that just give themselves an ego boost and pay raises place those hard earned dollars back into the pockets of the people who worked for it to begin with. CCC and WPA projects can and would work today. Place the boys where they are needed, maintaining the parks department for a fair wage. Place them in mass to maintain buildings, plant and recover farms that were going under and buy up housing developments that just fell apart and became foreclosure cities. By bull dozing these eye sores we can increase food production on a large scale and keep costs down by keeping foods local and give people work! The WPA projects provided work for artisans and people with expertise. It gave them a wage and a feeling of accomplishment. We can put these projects back into play. We have to give our people hope and encouragement that they can at least make a difference for their own families. Homeowner associations that were more concerned over aesthetics need to take a step back and allow people to plant victory style gardens. Growing your own small garden provides a number of positive things. First you are growing your own food. A feeling of accomplishment is worth more than having the correct tree in your yard. Ok want trees, choose fruit trees, Beauty and practicality. Bring back the Homemakers of America club in its entirety. We have to relearn and for those of us who are teachers, teach canning and preserving and other home centered activities that have been lost due to our changed lifestyle.
In order to come out of this depression we must look back to the leaders of the past depressions and emulate their programs in order to bring us back from the brink of self destruction and give us back self worth.
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