Biden's Biggest Blunder

Quote: rxwine

You said the war ended the depression. That's not factual. It just provided temporary employment. It wasn't a fix.

If it was, explain how. You won't be able to. Get your facts straight.

WWII ended the Great Depression. This is not in dispute by any intelligent person. Anyone claiming otherwise is making a jerk out of themselves.

My facts are straight.

Even better, war is a massive government program. One of the biggest ever. So if you want to say it ended from that, be my guest.

Quote: AZDuffman

WWII ended the Great Depression. This is not in dispute by any intelligent person. Anyone claiming otherwise is making a jerk out of themselves.

My facts are straight.

So it sounds like the depression was cured by a massive government program where most jobs were government jobs (military, civilian offices set up, support roles, etc...) , and those that were not were subsidized by the government (factories, defense industries etc....)

And, the economy after the war was propped up by the government as well. GI bill (new at the time) allowed millions of veterans to get degrees for free after the war. Weekly stipends were paid to veterans after their service ended for up to a year so they can either find a job or determine what they want to do.

VA home loans made it easy for veterans to own homes. And, for non veterans FHA loans and thirty year mortgages made buying a home a possibility (this was actually slightly earlier, but same era).

All of this came together to allow more home ownership, better jobs, feelings of financial security from such jobs and stipends, and a better educated population (leading to even better jobs eventually).

I am not saying any of this is bad, all good, but it was not the private sector that saved the economy. One of the largest government operations in history....

Quote: Gandler

So it sounds like the depression was cured by a massive government program where most jobs were government jobs (military, civilian offices set up, support roles, etc...) , and those that were not were subsidized by the government (factories, defense industries etc....)

And, the economy after the war was propped up by the government as well. GI bill (new at the time) allowed millions of veterans to get degrees for free after the war. Weekly stipends were paid to veterans after their service ended for up to a year so they can either find a job or determine what they want to do.

VA home loans made it easy for veterans to own homes. And, for non veterans FHA loans and thirty year mortgages made buying a home a possibility (this was actually slightly earlier, but same era).

All of this came together to allow more home ownership, better jobs, feelings of financial security from such jobs and stipends, and a better educated population (leading to even better jobs eventually).

I am not saying any of this is bad, all good, but it was not the private sector that saved the economy. One of the largest government operations in history....

Sounds like you are rationalizing.

Quote: AZDuffman

Sounds like you are rationalizing.

Yes, its a great example of how the government fixed a massive problem and made the country dramatically better in a few years for the middle class.
The free market would have never accomplished this (in fact it caused the depression....)

Generally what happens in U.S. history, markets cause problems, lose lots of people lots of money, massive crisis, government sets up programs to fix the problem, help people struggling, and regulate the markets, and gets the blame (after everyone is comfortable).

Quote: Gandler

Yes, its a great example of how the government fixed a massive problem and made the country dramatically better in a few years for the middle class.
The free market would have never accomplished this (in fact it caused the depression....)

Generally what happens in U.S. history, markets cause problems, lose lots of people lots of money, massive crisis, government sets up programs to fix the problem, help people struggling, and regulate the markets, and gets the blame (after everyone is comfortable).

If what you are saying is true the USSR would have had the booming economy and not the USA. Communist nations would have boomed but instead they starved.

I've said before socialism and capitalism are a better mix than either are alone.

Quote: AZDuffman

If what you are saying is true the USSR would have had the booming economy and not the USA. Communist nations would have boomed but instead they starved.

No, because communist is the government control of everything (often with many caveats when convenient for them).

Capitalism is superior to Communism. But, capitalism only works when it is regulated and there is a safety net. Again, American's economic crisis were the direct result of private enterprise (generally banks) messing up and causing a massive loss of wealth for individuals.

Free markets are fine as long as they are monitored and regulated.

Quote: rxwine

I've said before socialism and capitalism is a better mix than either are alone.

Exactly, all economies are really a mix-economy (generally leaning in one way or another). (There may be some rare exceptions, like North Korea, where there are not even fringe exemptions of people being allowed to run certain things on their own).

But, even most communist countries have free markets in some sectors. Chine is a good modern example of this.

And, all capitalist countries have governments that regulate (to varying extents) and provide a safety net (also to varying extends).

Quote: Gandler

No, because communist is the government control of everything (often with many caveats when convenient for them).

Capitalism is superior to Communism. But, capitalism only works when it is regulated and there is a safety net. Again, American's economic crisis were the direct result of private enterprise (generally banks) messing up and causing a massive loss of wealth for individuals.

Free markets are fine as long as they are monitored and regulated.

The thing is liberals do not want a "safety net." They want an easy chair so people can refuse to work while having everything brought to them on a platter. If you doubt me look at how liberals scream when there is a work requirement put on welfare. Or that junk food not be allowed under SNAP.

Of free college. How is that a "safety net?"