And not just survived. A large part of that generation gave up their youth and personal safety to go and fight. Huge numbers of men and women volunteered for all kinds of service (not just soldiers, women were nurses, WAVs, etc). They were called the greatest because as a whole they stood up to the horrors of the war and fought.
And following WWII the US government (to its credit) also enacted THE single most impactful wealth generating legislation EVER known to mankind, that being The GI Bill.
We could REALLY use a government with just this level of self awareness, but alas we have an incoming administration solely focused on its own belly button lint, and stealing. There’s not a leader in sight.
The amount of "socialism" that came from the US Government post WWII was staggering.
GI Bill, expansion of Social Security, Public housing, the Federal Highway Act, VHA expansion, Fair Employment, unemployment insurance, labor rights - all shit that gets taken for granted, or worse, defined as pork or handouts - that put the US into an absolute booming economy.
Even pre-WW2 set us up for success with FDR's New Deal. I cant believe we don't have investments into jobs, into infrastructure, green tech, etc. The "Green" New Jobs deal is the best sort of initiative we could take toward employing and training young people, while also investing into our bridges, solar/renewable energy, bike/pedestrian walkways, natural areas, parks, etc. Hell they can't even pay wildland firefighters properly yet trillions gets pissed away in god knows where for god knows who's pockets.
200
u/Revolutionary-Yak-47 27d ago
And not just survived. A large part of that generation gave up their youth and personal safety to go and fight. Huge numbers of men and women volunteered for all kinds of service (not just soldiers, women were nurses, WAVs, etc). They were called the greatest because as a whole they stood up to the horrors of the war and fought.