If we do not learn do we so repeat? I think it is to be if things do not change in 2012.

Unfortunately, Dr. Williams, I believe the present occupant of the White House is a dedicated Marxist whom wants to destroy the Capitalist system. What better way than to run the debt to extreme proportions, devalue the dollar and destroy the middle class. This leaves more people dependent upon "big brother" government to survive. I believe this is Obama's ultimate goal and those radicals that surround him in the White House. And if the 2010 election does not change the balance of power in Congress. I believe our "goose is cooked"!

You just can't keep trying to confuse people with facts. Facts get in the way of promoting the current administration's version of pure truth. I just hope the rest of the people wake up before 2012.

Yes, Obama knows exactly what he wants. And the people who voted for this radical socialist are totally responsible!

Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude today is one of entitlement. Those who feel they don't have enough think it's because those who do are grinding them down. They aren't smart enough to realize that those with success have it for a reason: they worked hard for it and earned it! Obozo's redistribution minions who are in control of Congress have convinced people the "rich" are keeping them down, and must do the "neighborly" thing and give up their assets to the government. The assets can then be passed on to those who think the government owes them support in all things. As a. wegmann says above, Obozo's goal is to expand the welfare state and make everyone dependent on it for a living. People who call Obozo stupid and an idiot don't get it. He knows exactly what he's doing, and if the voters don't take care of business in 2010 and 2012, then we'll all get what we deserve: the United States as a Europeon style state at best, or the United States as a third world country at the worst.

How much longer would the Great Depression have lasted if WWII had never happened?

We won WWII in part because be built ships faster than they could be sunk. We built planes faster than they could be shot out of the sky. We built tanks and trucks and jeeps faster than they could be blown up. When the war was over, and the smoke cleared, the U.S. economy was the only one that had not been blown into oblivion. All the major industrial centers in Europe and the Pacific had been turned into rubble. It was American that rebuilt the world.

Imagine what 1941, or 1945, or 1953 for that matter would have looked like if there had never been a WWII? It would probably look a lot like 1935, or 1938.

Mr. McGinn: World War II did not end the depression. The Great Depression wasn't over until 1946 or so. During the war we had rationing and really couldn't buy anything that we now consider a luxury. It wasn't until the G.I.'s got home and needed housing, etc, that things started taking off. I was young then, but not so young that I couldn't see what was going on. Almost all economists will now tell you that the story that WWII ended the depression is a myth.

From 1791 to 1913 we had

NO

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

FEDERAL RESERVE ACT

STATES LEGISLATURES APPOINTED U.S..SENATORS

AND WE HAD THE GREATEST GROWTH IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

LETS AGAIN FOLLOW WHAT WE HAD DURING THE 122 YEARS FROM 1791 TO 1913 jfg

What people don't realize is that the organization of capital to produce value occurs under both forms of Capitalism: individual and State Capitalism (Communism).

Who is best placed to determine value to me? is the question: the individual, the corporation, the investor? or the government?

Obama is a true fool if he believes redistributing income will eliminate poverty. Bill Gates had an idea. He brought it to market and created enormous wealth because his product had value. Now he has an idea to use spent fuel rods in smaller reactors: a solution to two problems at once.

It is very easy to underestimate the creativity of business. The wealthy are also looking for value. They invest in what they believe will secure their future. But they dream big. The steam engine was a fine idea. But it took investors to make it (and the computer) change the world.

The reason the taxes by FDR and BHO did not/are not working is because they were/are not high enough. They should be at least 110%. And 200% would be even better. Adam Smith call your office.

Joe W. I agree completely. WWII did not end the Great Depression, but would the Great Depression have ended in 1946 if there had never been a WWII? I think not.

WWII created a demand that didn't exist before the war started in 1939. Was it a "free market" demand? No. It was a demand created by a government that needed supplies to fight a war. Supplies that were being "consumed" by the enemy. American industry responded. True, people had to ration in order to free up the resources necessary to meet the demand, but the engine of the economy was humming.

After the war, our economy was the only one left standing that wasn't touched by the war. The new demand now came from the rest of the world that needed to be rebuilt. American industry responded...and returning GI's found a wealth of jobs waiting for them. We were also a creditor nation in 1940. At the end of that war, other countries owed us money. Today we are a debtor nation. Forget about funding a war today. We're going trillions of dollars further into debt just for social programs.

What truly amazes me about the American people of WWII is that even after living through a debilitating decade of government-induced economic suffering, they still dug deep into their wallets to buy War Bonds to support the effort. They still turned in pots and pans, and gave up on new tires for their 10-year old car, and numerous other things. Today, if I take away your cell service, Americans are up in arms and protesting. God help the government official that might knock on your door and ask you to buy a "War Bond" or hand over your cookware so that they can go build a tank.

Joseph W is quite correct. Having (militarily) survived WWII,Korea, RVN (multiple tours in each) I can attest to the accuracy of his comments. $54 dollars a month (to start),promises of full medical, dental, vision care (self and spouse) for "staying in"---all broken! The Government promises much, and delivers little, if anything. Now, the "pensions" and benefits are being curtailed. Medicare no longer is Medical Care. Tri-Car (military) finally kicked in, and now is kicking out. Complaint? No, of course not! If I had to rely on government promises, I would be destitute! Point? We, as a populace, must realize the government cannot deliver what the people will not approve. Goverment produces nothing! Why should it control the production of those that do? Hope for a Change in Government, very soon!

This is the most outstanding and most convincing editorial on why socialism/communism/economic liberalism/total government intervention & control/spend, borrow & tax/redistribution of wealth-----whatever you want to call it DOES NOT WORK!!! It's been tried too many times by too many countries (including ours) before. Will we wake up? When???

Considering the fact that everyone in the Obama administration is either corrupt, a tax evader, a Socialist, an anti-capitalist, an anti-American, and/or an anti-human, what can we expect but a goal of complete destruction.

The attacks on marriage, the family, children, the Constitution, and the military are also planned, concerted efforts to completely transform America into the worst vision of tyrannical despotism not seen since Hitler and Stalin.

Never attribute to conspiracy what you can attribute to incompetence. Democrat and Republican legislators and executives are all guilty of using government policy to punish their opponents and reward their supporters. We need a Balanced Budget amendment. We need a Congressional Term Limits amendment. We need to renegotiate the current international monetary policy agreements that have resulted in the global financial system's dependence on deficit spending by the U.S. for the second time in 40 years (see "Triffin's Dilemma").