[Eagle Forgotten]

When FDR took office, unemployment was, as you note, at something like 28%. In the late 1930s, before American entry into World War II, unemployment had been reduced to something like 10%.

Therefore, I'd be inclined to agree with you that the war -- sometimes referred to as "military Keynesianism" -- was not the key or sole factor in ending the Depression. What you have to account for, though, is that something happened during FDR's first several years in office. Conditions were markedly better than they were at the time of his inauguration.

So, in your view, what caused the huge decline in unemployment under Roosevelt?

And if you answer "buy my book," you will be sentenced to jogging three laps around the FDR Memorial. :)

[investigateworld]

Your thoughts?

[sanchmo]

WW2 triggered a recovery in teh USA for exactly one reason: exports.

Starting in 1938/1939, the rest of the world was destroying its cities, its factories, its homes and farmfields, its production capacity and its most productive people - a catastrophe that lasted for 7 years. During those 7 years, the US was lending to its allies, so that those allies could use that money to buy military equipment and supplies manufactured in US factories. Every country in the world - in Europe, Russia, China, Japan, etc - ended up in a catastrophically reduced economic and financial position, except for a small handful... those like the US whose domestic infrastructure was spared and who became net lenders and net exporters.

[razorback-bert]

bookmark

[newfreep]

BUMP to help expose FDR’s liberalism = socialism.

[US Navy Vet]

2 books that everyone needs to read to “understand” FDR

1. Liberal Facists(tells you about the Woodrow Wilson/FDR/LBJ unbroken thread of Liberalism).

2. FDR’s Folly(tells how FDR’s policies prolong the Great Depression).