by MHM
25 October 2018
I’ve often asked those who lived
through the Great Depression and World War II how they endured during the
strict rationing imposed on them by “progressive” governments. Several old
timers replied that since they lived in the countryside or on farms, they were
never in need of food, since they were self reliant or raised their own
lifestock. It was a time when those who lived along the Gulf Coast of the
southern US and off Long Island related seeing burning merchants off shore,
targets of German U-boats. I don’t recall any of these folks living in the
countryside suffering, compared to those in the cities who were limited in what
they could grow locally (if at all).
Naturally, the Left seems obsessed with
rationing, whether it is your constitutional rights, freedom to travel,
expression, or to buy goods.
In WWII, US rationing began on 11 December 1941, although those in the US were previously warned of impending problems due to the war in Europe. The main inducement was stepped up production for the war effort, and the need to provide the UK with food and goods due to the effective “U-boat peril”.
In WWII, US rationing began on 11 December 1941, although those in the US were previously warned of impending problems due to the war in Europe. The main inducement was stepped up production for the war effort, and the need to provide the UK with food and goods due to the effective “U-boat peril”.
When rationing of gasoline took effect,
certain members of the community were exempt, such as firefighters and police
(VIP “X” stickers). Never ones to steep so low as to be considered as part of
the peasant class, over 200 congressmen also received “X” stickers for their
auto’s. After a public outcry, these
gracious privileges were revoked. Rationing of clothes soon followed, along
with goods made of rubber, steel, and aluminum since these materials went towards
the war effort. You could not buy new tires, automobiles, refrigerators,
typewriters, etc., and even clothing was rationed.
US food rations generally consisted of
the following monthly allowances (there were no limits for those who grew their
own food, nor on fresh chicken or seafood). Canned goods were otherwise
rationed-
Note that not all food items were rationed (those bought on the point system), but many purchases depended on availability.
I
don’t recall much from what my father said about WWII rationing, only that they
made “bathtub booze” during the war
years. My mother lived in Montauk, NY during the war, so they ate a lot of
seafood.
In the UK, rationing was strict and in some regards items such as sugar were rationed until 1954. The weekly ration in the UK during the war years for one adult generally consisted of-
Communist and totalitarian nations continue to use rationing as a means of population control. Cuba is no exception.
The situation in Venezuela,
created by the “socialist” government, has been spiraling out of control since
the establishment of the dictatorship by the late Hugo Chavez (and currently by former bus
driver and communist Nicholas Maduro). As of 2018, dozens of basic food items
and consumer goods are in short supply due to government corruption,
incompetence, and the imposition of tyranny. The average Venezuelan lost 26
pounds in 2017.
The 1973 Arab-Israeli War (or
Ramadan War, depending on your point of view), resulted in an oil embargo against
the US by the Arab OPEC nations from October 1973 to March 1974. Therefore, as a stopgap measure, the US
instituted gas rationing. Much of this consisted of limiting gas purchases to odd/even
days- those with auto tags ending with even numbers could only buy gas on even numbered days, those with odd numbered tag buying on odd days). I don’t
recall any shortages locally, but then again those events were 45 years ago,
and President Ford’s “Whip Inflation Now” campaign was more memorable (as was
Jimmy Carter’s ineffectual leadership).
From 1972-1973 our family was stationed
in southern Italy, and while we could buy gasoline on the local economy, gas
was rationed by the U.S. Armed Forces. When I arrived in Germany in 1988, we
had ration cards for hard alcohol purchases, and were limited to buying gas at
AAFES gas stations with a coupon book (no limits for buying on the German
economy, which ran about $4 per gallon equivalent). Rationing is still in effect in EUCOM for gas, cigarettes, hard liquor, and coffee. Even driving from Rheinland Pfalz to
Garmisch and back during a weekend trip or leave, not to mention other sites in
Germany, I don’t recall even coming close to the monthly gas allotment.
During one weekend at the local
gasthaus, I ran into a German man in his late 40’s who related that, as an orphan during WWII, they barely survived the war. He stated he loved Americans, since only the GI's fed them after the end of the conflict.
Thus, while totalitarian governments and progressive socialist visionaries continue their quest to crush the human spirit and repress freedom, the wise will find ways to fight back against tyranny in its endless forms.
Thus, while totalitarian governments and progressive socialist visionaries continue their quest to crush the human spirit and repress freedom, the wise will find ways to fight back against tyranny in its endless forms.
Suggested
viewing-
Modern
family tries WWII era rationing in Australia
Communists
advocating rationing for “climate change”
http://climate.leeds.ac.uk/events/food-climate-change-and-rationing/
http://climate.leeds.ac.uk/events/food-climate-change-and-rationing/
Yet another EUSSR advocate of food rationing-
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/why-a-return-to-food-rationing-could-be-good-for-us-11363917868218
mhm
Old School Survival (OSS) blog
25 October 2018
Old School Survival (OSS) blog
25 October 2018
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