The Great Depression

They say that those who do not know history are destined to repeat it. There are forces at work today that make me question what our future holds. So I've been visiting the past to try to make sense of what went wrong in a time period that was so critical to my country, and to the world, the era of the Great Depression. Not only did it wreak havoc on families and governments, but it led us back into a world war.

What follows are pieces of a complicated puzzle. For the Great Depression wasn't just one single event, but a kaleidoscope of interwoven events that led to the misery of millions of people.

Each video stands on it's own, but they are all important pieces, so I would watch all of them when you have the time. I know there is more, but I wanted to start with these. They are all full length documentaries.

The first is a visit to an iconic American company, Ford Motor Co. It is a working man's view of a time of euphoria that all too quickly fades.  And perhaps a lesson in business that should be learned.

I wish they would tell you in advance that they are restricting viewing of a video.  *sigh*  Anyway, that is the case with this one.  So I will provide a link:

PBS Presentation

The second is a tale of greed and excess. Something that we are well acquainted with.

This last has a hint of something that many may have forgotten or ignored. Yes, even back then climate change may have been an issue, even if no one seemed to realize it.  Perhaps this one could also be a lesson to those in government that believe Americans are complete pushovers.  

The Trouble with Trade

So what if Donald Trump is right? I know, I know, I have panned him quite often in the past. But that doesn't mean I won't give him some credit once in a while. It also doesn't mean that I agree with his methods, because I don't. Nor does it mean I am going to change my mind about not voting for him.

We all know that there is an imbalance with trade. And the method to correct that has usually been the application of tariffs or some kind of trade agreement that, one would hope, levels the playing field a little. Everyone is being affected by the cheaper imports from China, not just the US, or even the EU. Their government heavily subsidizes their industries, although they are not the only ones who do so. Obviously their goal is to keep enough of their citizens employed to maintain stability. But there is a cost to those who import the cheaper Chinese goods.  There is also a plus, in that it does keep prices low for consumers.  But if you don't have a job...

We have been talking, quite frequently, about the immigration situation in Europe. On the surface one wouldn't think about this in relation to the trade problems. But it really is an interconnected world. The problem with cheap goods from China driving local businesses out of business isn't just a problem for the larger economies.  Smaller economies which haven't had a chance to mature are also hit hard.  But China isn't the only large economy guilty of this.

Perhaps solving one problem(trade) would go a long way to solving another(immigration). So I have for you a very interesting documentary regarding the workings of global trade. This one is current. :)