WPA

[Renee]

I saw on the news this morning that Obama was going to create jobs by starting a program to improve roads, bridges and schools. This sounds an awful lot like the WPA to me. Now to be honest I don't know much about the WPA other than Grandma thought it was welfare so I was wanting to hear from the people more educated on the subject.

What's your opinion of the WPA? Did it help to bring the country out of the Great Depression?


Oh....and let's keep this nice. Maybe limit it to the Walton's time period and keep the current goings on out of it. I can see where this subject could possibly turn in to that proverbial can of worms.

[wetherwacky]

You all probobly know whether I am liberal or conservative, however, I suggest we don't engage in a political discussion (which will definately turn into an argument.) This is the Walton's Forum.

Now, as a history discussion...

it was the war that dragged us out of the depression, not any government program. All the industry and military production, needed to win WWII, was basically a shot of adrenaline to our depressed economy.

[Deleted]

Ah, but thanks to the work down by the WPA, America's infrastructure was ready and able to handle the demand of moving all the equipment, supplies and raw product. Yes, the WPA did help to move the country out of the depression.

[boatwright]

Gino worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

He was obnoxious.

And I don't care how bad he had it back in Hell's Kitchen; his behavior was inexcusable.

[River]

My grandfather worked for the CCC and it supported him and my great grandmother and his three younger brothers. My great grandfather died and left my great grandmother with 4 boys to support. So the CCC kept them all from starving.

[dwhill7478]

Nov 23, 2008 9:38:57 GMT -5 Renee said:

I saw on the news this morning that Obama was going to create jobs by starting a program to improve roads, bridges and schools. This sounds an awful lot like the WPA to me. Now to be honest I don't know much about the WPA other than Grandma thought it was welfare so I was wanting to hear from the people more educated on the subject.

What's your opinion of the WPA? Did it help to bring the country out of the Great Depression?


Oh....and let's keep this nice. Maybe limit it to the Walton's time
period and keep the current goings on out of it. I can see where this subject could possibly turn in to that proverbial can of worms.

To Renee:

I think Mr. Obama's proposal is more similar to the PWA (Public Works Administration). That New Deal program concentrated more on infrastructure (roads, bridges, courthouses, etc.). The WPA (Works Progress Administration) was a program directed more at providing jobs for out-of-work writers, artists, musicians, etc., during the Depression.

To Weatherwacky:

You are right. World War II did finally lift us out of the Depression, not the New Deal. Some New Deal programs were only moderately successful and some were even declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court (leading to Pres. Roosevelt's "court-packing" scheme). It was the growth in private-sector jobs (WWII factory jobs, et.al.) that provided the stimulus that finally got us "Depression-free."

[Honeybee]

This is way over my head.

[wetherwacky]

Industry revitalised the economy because of the war. In fact, the war contracts John recieved (and the co-op he formed to handle them) are as good an example of that economic caffeine as anything.

The government's primary purpose is for defense, and it did a good job during WWII. Granted, there was waste and corruption. That's what the Truman Committee was formed for. Yet, we've always risen to meet tough challenges as Americans. That's what we do!