Could you have survived? I have been reading Susan Waggoners Its a Wonderful Christmas The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965 . I seriously doubt that many of you here could have...

justkillingtime

I have been reading Susan Waggoners Its a Wonderful Christmas The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965. I seriously doubt that many of you here could have survived the home front during World War II without screaming about your rights being violated.

1. You could buy very little, if anything at all, in the way of volleyballs, tennis shoes, galoshes, tires for your car or anything else made from rubber. Today it would mean doing without things made from plastic/synthetic rubber which has replaced natural rubber.

2. You could not buy new cars, typewriters (think computers today), most toys, pots/pans or alarm clocks and you could buy bicycles only with the governments permission because the metal that went into these things was needed for planes, tanks, battleships and ammunition.

3. You could not drive in your personal motor vehicle for more than 60 (and by the end of the War 45) miles per week.

4. You could not have anything you bought delivered.

5. Anything you bought on credit had to be paid off within 2 months or your credit account was canceled.

6. The government discouraged you from making long distance phone calls and if you tried to do so anyway chances were that you would not have been able to do so because you could not have gotten a free phone line. Today it would mean not having a cell phone.

7. You could not throw lavish parties. Even if you bought rationed food on the black market you couldnt afford anyone to cook and serve it.

8. You could not heat your home in the winter any higher than 65 degrees. Fuel oil was rationed to the point that you could buy 66% of what you used in 1941. And the winter of 42-43 was so severe on the East Coast that even coal and firewood had to be rationed.

9. If you had a job of any kind chances were you paid federal income taxes. If your income was more than $2.65 million in todays money you paid a 94% top marginal federal income tax rate.

10. You could not eat every kind of food you wanted to or eat as much as you wanted to partly because of rationing and partly because of the overall cost and availability of food. Your daily calorie intake would be around 1/2 to 2/3 of what it is today.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

justk*****gtime wrote:

I have been reading Susan Waggoners Its a Wonderful Christmas The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965. I seriously doubt that many of you here could have survived the home front during World War II without screaming about your rights being violated.

1. You could buy very little, if anything at all, in the way of volleyballs, tennis shoes, galoshes, tires for your car or anything else made from rubber. Today it would mean doing without things made from plastic/synthetic rubber which has replaced natural rubber.

2. You could not buy new cars, typewriters (think computers today), most toys, pots/pans or alarm clocks and you could buy bicycles only with the governments permission because the metal that went into these things was needed for planes, tanks, battleships and ammunition.

3. You could not drive in your personal motor vehicle for more than 60 (and by the end of the War 45) miles per week.

4. You could not have anything you bought delivered.

5. Anything you bought on credit had to be paid off within 2 months or your credit account was canceled.

6. The government discouraged you from making long distance phone calls and if you tried to do so anyway chances were that you would not have been able to do so because you could not have gotten a free phone line. Today it would mean not having a cell phone.

7. You could not throw lavish parties. Even if you bought rationed food on the black market you couldnt afford anyone to cook and serve it.

8. You could not heat your home in the winter any higher than 65 degrees. Fuel oil was rationed to the point that you could buy 66% of what you used in 1941. And the winter of 42-43 was so severe on the East Coast that even coal and firewood had to be rationed.

9. If you had a job of any kind chances were you paid federal income taxes. If your income was more than $2.65 million in todays money you paid a 94% top marginal federal income tax rate.

10. You could not eat every kind of food you wanted to or eat as much as you wanted to partly because of rationing and partly because of the overall cost and availability of food. Your daily calorie intake would be around 1/2 to 2/3 of what it is today.

I have been reading Susan Waggoners i Its a Won... (show quote)

How accusatory toward some of our members on this site. We're you unaware there are many who, in fact, did live through the times you are referencing? :thumbdown:

rumitoid

AuntiE wrote:

How accusatory toward some of our members on this site. We're you unaware there are many who, in fact, did live through the times you are referencing? :thumbdown:

To the best of your knowledge, JKT, did this include the elite? The average family was constrained but from what I read it was practically common for those with the bucks to ignore altogether, or nearly, these restrictions.

rumitoid

justk*****gtime wrote:

I have been reading Susan Waggoners Its a Wonderful Christmas The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965. I seriously doubt that many of you here could have survived the home front during World War II without screaming about your rights being violated.

1. You could buy very little, if anything at all, in the way of volleyballs, tennis shoes, galoshes, tires for your car or anything else made from rubber. Today it would mean doing without things made from plastic/synthetic rubber which has replaced natural rubber.

2. You could not buy new cars, typewriters (think computers today), most toys, pots/pans or alarm clocks and you could buy bicycles only with the governments permission because the metal that went into these things was needed for planes, tanks, battleships and ammunition.

3. You could not drive in your personal motor vehicle for more than 60 (and by the end of the War 45) miles per week.

4. You could not have anything you bought delivered.

5. Anything you bought on credit had to be paid off within 2 months or your credit account was canceled.

6. The government discouraged you from making long distance phone calls and if you tried to do so anyway chances were that you would not have been able to do so because you could not have gotten a free phone line. Today it would mean not having a cell phone.

7. You could not throw lavish parties. Even if you bought rationed food on the black market you couldnt afford anyone to cook and serve it.

8. You could not heat your home in the winter any higher than 65 degrees. Fuel oil was rationed to the point that you could buy 66% of what you used in 1941. And the winter of 42-43 was so severe on the East Coast that even coal and firewood had to be rationed.

9. If you had a job of any kind chances were you paid federal income taxes. If your income was more than $2.65 million in todays money you paid a 94% top marginal federal income tax rate.

10. You could not eat every kind of food you wanted to or eat as much as you wanted to partly because of rationing and partly because of the overall cost and availability of food. Your daily calorie intake would be around 1/2 to 2/3 of what it is today.

I have been reading Susan Waggoners i Its a Won... (show quote)

Survive is a rather strong word and you must admit that what today is considered the norm was far different than the early 40s. Survive, I would definitely think so; like it, not very much; be gracious, for image.

justkillingtime

AuntiE wrote:

How accusatory toward some of our members on this site. We're you unaware there are many who, in fact, did live through the times you are referencing? :thumbdown:

Considering that the events in question took place 68 or more years ago, I seriously doubt that many people here are old enough to remember them.

justkillingtime

rumitoid wrote:

To the best of your knowledge, JKT, did this include the elite? The average family was constrained but from what I read it was practically common for those with the bucks to ignore altogether, or nearly, these restrictions.

I have studied history for as long as I have known how to read (well over 35 years now). My biology degree comes with 40 credit hours in history including a course on World War II. I have seen no documentation to suggest people were able to evade the ration laws because they had money. If anyone had used their wealth in this manner, they would have made themselves social outcasts even if they hadnt been legally prosecuted. World War II was a much different day and age from modern America.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

justk*****gtime wrote:

Considering that the events in question took place 68 or more years ago, I seriously doubt that many people here are old enough to remember them.

Actually, I could name at least between four to six of our members who are , in fact, in their early to mid seventies and at least one who is eighty.

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

AuntiE wrote:

Actually, I could name at least between four to six of our members who are , in fact, in their early to mid seventies and at least one who is eighty.

and I am one of them

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

alex wrote:

and I am one of them

I did not feel it was my place to name names. :-P

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

AuntiE wrote:

I did not feel it was my place to name names. :-P

that's ok I didn't expect to live this long so I'm happy I did

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

alex wrote:

that's ok I didn't expect to live this long so I'm happy I did

If you had been told in your frisky younger days you would be on a computer commenting on political and social issues, you would have probably called the "men in white coats" for the person telling you such a thing. :-D

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

AuntiE wrote:

If you had been told in your frisky younger days you would be on a computer commenting on political and social issues, you would have probably called the "men in white coats" for the person telling you such a thing. :-D

I was on medicare before I got a computer

justkillingtime

AuntiE wrote:

Actually, I could name at least between four to six of our members who are , in fact, in their early to mid seventies and at least one who is eighty.

Then at most only 1 member is old enough to have any valid memories of World War II and they likely arent old enough to have known the details pertaining to the rationing. Children would have been insulated from the full effects of the War by their age.

justkillingtime

AuntiE wrote:

If you had been told in your frisky younger days you would be on a computer commenting on political and social issues, you would have probably called the "men in white coats" for the person telling you such a thing. :-D

A computer forum is little different from a CB or Ham radio.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

alex wrote:

I was on medicare before I got a computer

I can go you one better. I did not own a single electronic device until 2012. There is a computer downstairs in our family room; however, it completely overwhelms my ability. My iPad is so simple. It can probably do a lot more then what I do; however, I have not read the whole tutorial. You are way ahead of me.