The Great Depression

[lildog]

Some of you may recall this spring that the agency I work put a call out for stories of the Great Depression by the people who lived it. Response was incredible and it took me most of the summer to go through the 300+ stories we received and come up with some sort of organization. But, I'm happy to say that, at long last, the first volume of excerpts is now available at our Web site. I think you'll find some of them thoughtful, some heartwarming and some just plain funny. Those certainly were different times then. Reading all of the stories kind of makes me sad that no generation since will have similar experiences - and that's just too bad.

I hope you like 'em.

http://www.aging.ohio.gov/news/greatdep ... ryproject/

[beaconlight]

Thanks for sharing.

[Joe Malinowski]

That is some great reading thanks for posting it.

[dakcub]

This came at a very good time for me.....I just started graves tonight and now have something to read.
Robert (thanks for posting) Miller

[dakcub]

Well I spent 4-5 hours reading all of them.....I am lost for words.....I all of a sudden feel ashamed for all I have.....our modern kids would curl up and die....they would never have a chance...
Robert

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I was born after the depression, so I am not old enough to remember any of it, in spite of what some of the kids, such as tractorchick and stupid the 2nd, think. My parents always said they were pretyt lucky during the depression. Both of them were raised on small self sufficient farms in the Mo. hills, and while store bought items were pretty scarce, they always had all they needed to eat, as well as supplying some others who were not so fortunate.

[Mike in Louisiana]

I was born after the depression, so I am not old enough to remember any of it, in spite of what some of the kids, such as tractorchick and stupid the 2nd, think.

John, are you trying to say they think you are an old

[KETCHAM]

I remember hearing my grandmother talking about the depression.[dad's mom].We all have been enjoying a good streak for some time.I was always taught to work hard.I remember my grandparents talking about doing "without".Things are getting tighter every day.I hope to be working soon but you never know.Its going to be a very intersting next few years.We need a leader,which scares the h-ll out of me.Life is good,I hope it gets better!!! KETCHAM

[Dave (69 lo-boy)]

Understanding why boom and bust cycles happen in the first place is something we should all try to do.
What is happening now has happened before, and the same mistakes that lead to the depression and made it last so long are being replayed.
As has been said, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
I humbly suggest reading the works of the late Murray Rothbard and any "Austrian School" economist to see why we should all be angry about the central banking system, and laughing at those who say this is the fault of free market capitalism.
I am reading Congressman Ron Paul's new book "End The Fed" now, it is also recommended, for what that is worth.
Sorry if this seems like a rant, maybe it is.
Dave