I’m tired of folks bellyaching that Obama is leading us to socialism. It may look like socialism, but he is trying to clean up a very dangerous mess. The economy nearly collapsed in 2008. Stimulated by government spending, it is slowly staggering back to its feet. But the big problems remain unsolved. If we don’t solve them, a complete meltdown will occur, later if not soon.
A complete meltdown threatens our survival. We borrowed our way out of the Great Depression, in fits and starts during the ’30s, then by massive borrowing to fight World War II. Obama is racing to stabilize the economy, then make needed changes before our overseas credit runs out. It really is a desperate race.
Never during my lifetime was the U.S. government bigger than during World War II. Millions, 16 million of them in uniform, worked directly for Uncle Sam. He rationed gasoline and food. Our A and B stickers gave us 3 gallons a week for one car and 6 gallons for the other. Red meat and butter used too many red ration coupons, so we bought macaroni, chipped beef and margarine, and canned produce from our “victory garden.”
The Office of Price Administration regulated both wages and prices. The government borrowed a higher percentage of GDP than it is borrowing now. The top income tax rate was 91 percent. Uncle Sam did not own General Motors, but he told GM what to make – tanks – and he paid GM from the same source Obama is using now, borrowed funds.
Big government during W.W.II did not lead to socialism. As soon as the war ended, rationing, wage and price controls and excessive borrowing went away. GM went back to making cars. We built the interstate highway system. Millions went to college on the G.I. Bill. Tens of millions bought their own homes. These were good times.
We need enormous changes. We must go from a people who borrow and consume what we can’t afford to one that builds and saves. We must get health care off the backs of American businesses. We must become energy independent. We must provide good jobs for Americans despite tremendous wage competition from foreigners and immigrants. Meanwhile, we still need to keep our land safe and take care of our children and old folks like me.
Obama is the ablest president we have had in a long time, but the job may be too large for anyone. We ought to work together as we did during World War II. Sadly, too many of us would rather just complain.
Robert G. Fisher lives in Independence.
