*they buried grandpa joad on the side of the road*
Currently, I'm reading Hard Times, Studs Terkel's oral history of the Great Depression.
It's a 1986 edition (with a foreward written then) of a book with late 60s interviews of people about their experiences during the late 20s-mid 30s.
And you know what? There have been an astounding number of times where I just sort of stop and think, "Gee, that sounds rather familiar right now." Every part, no matter when it was written or when it took place.
Because WE NEVER SEEM TO LEARN THINGS.
Seriously, the talk of Ponzi's scheme, people buying up things in the market with money that didn't exist (and they didn't even really have on paper), titans of finance saying they never saw it coming, people being amazed that there wasn't any sort of organized outrage in the streets, the 1986 portion speculating that increased deregulation could possibly roll it all back and let it happen once again- well, it's just an interesting read for these times, if you have either the time or the inclination.
It's a 1986 edition (with a foreward written then) of a book with late 60s interviews of people about their experiences during the late 20s-mid 30s.
And you know what? There have been an astounding number of times where I just sort of stop and think, "Gee, that sounds rather familiar right now." Every part, no matter when it was written or when it took place.
Because WE NEVER SEEM TO LEARN THINGS.
Seriously, the talk of Ponzi's scheme, people buying up things in the market with money that didn't exist (and they didn't even really have on paper), titans of finance saying they never saw it coming, people being amazed that there wasn't any sort of organized outrage in the streets, the 1986 portion speculating that increased deregulation could possibly roll it all back and let it happen once again- well, it's just an interesting read for these times, if you have either the time or the inclination.