Things Don't Suck

The Great Depression following the stock market crash of 1929 was bad. Really bad. The current recession we're in is pretty bad, too, and while I wouldn't dream of trivializing it, I think it's a good idea to remind myself and you that the Great Depression was a lot worse. Why? Because we came back from it.

America is resilient. A few weeks ago we brought you this little dose of perspective. Maybe it's time for another.

We are the children and grandchildren of the very people who suffered through the Great Depression; we used to have to remind my Grandmother that she didn't need to pilfer the sugar packets and jams from the diner. Now? I'm pocketing marmalade and saltines.

But like I said, things were worse back then. How much worse? Here are some examples of how much more everything could suck:

50 percent of the children in the United States did not have "adequate food, shelter, clothing, or medical care." There were no government programs to help those who had fallen on hard times — none. If you had savings in the bank, not just stocks, you couldn't withdraw your money. The banks were broke. If you weren't a young white man, you didn't even have half a chance at a job. Two words: Dust Bowl.

Doesn't that kind of make you feel better about the current recession, in some sick way? America has been through worse and bounced back. If this gets worse? America will still bounce back. We'll get through this — maybe this time with the help of the end of a war, and the end of reliance on foreign oil! If we could just develop a green energy source we could export ... ideas welcome.