[b][/b]DEPRESSION, the economic variety.
I am tired, depressed at hearing the current economic downswing being compared to the 'great depression". I do not know what was so great about the depression other than the depth of suffering.
Germany & America were the hardest hit by the depression. Germany by degree, America by scope. Both nations ripe for the picking for revolution & fascism. There is no structural difference between the Nazi & Soviet systems, just the names. Both deprive people of liberty, crush souls & murder bodies in the millions. The 'devil' chose Germany. Now the devil is looking for a host nations, everyone everywhere is at risk.
During the depression people went without food. Today food via food stamps & entitlement programs is available. The sodium content may be high but no one starves. Section Eight housing & shelters provide housing. Street people for the most part have mental health issues. The bed bugs may bite but who is to blame?
During the depression my father became a soldier to eat regularly. An uncle went away to the CCC. My Polish grandmother brought work home. My Irish grandmother died. My Polish grandfather taught himself carpentry & travailed throughout New England putting roofs on barns. My mother would pass out at her machine due to poor nutrition for $6 a week. Another uncle lost his sight in one eye due to poor nutrition during his depression youth. Aunts left home to work as domestics. No welfare, no begging.
Today the unemployed hang out, watch cable or stellite TV, eat regular, are given cell phones & get mood drugs via a multi generational welfare system.
One can argue who is responsible for the current economic malaise. One thing for sure, no one is suffering anywhere near what people did during the great depression.