91 year old former Civilian Conservation Corps member: "we're damn near a depression"

[sabra]

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=50971&catid=2

<snip>

Over the weekend, Obama took that speculation to another level, saying his recovery plan could include the revival of post-Depression organizations like the Civilian Conservation Corps.

That's music to the ears of 91-year-old Bob Griffiths, known to his friends as Griff. The Wilton resident served in the CCC back in the 1930's in upstate New York.

Griff said an organization like the CCC is just what the country needs right now to rebound out of its poor economic state.

"We ought to be thinking in terms of young men again. We need a CCC," Griff said. "I'm looking at the economy now and if I may be frank, we're damn near a depression."

[Submariner]

1. My Dad worked for the CCC in the Berkshires of MA

building roads, like hair pin turn on the Mohawk Trail and the roads and bridges throughout western MA.

He said it was the greatest jobs program to help him beat the Depression the best he could. Then WWII took him to Europe for 4 years after that.

[raccoon]

2. We need the CCC now. nt

[SpiralHawk]

9. I've drived that turn many a time. Totally cool.

Except that the turn leads one downward to North Adams, not exactly Shangri-la.

[deaniac21]

3. I'm ready for new ideas for a new age. The only people who

would work in those camps today are illegal immigrants.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. You think the government has no control over who it hires?

CCC wasn't 'contract labor'. Employees were direct employees of the government - there would be no middle-man overlooking the lack of green cards to cut costs.

[deaniac21]

6. I'm saying no American is going to work that hard for the meager

wage.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. You would not say that working for $8/hr is meager

if you were faced with 0$/hr.

It would defeat the purpose of the program for the government to pay less than the minimum prevailing wage for whatever work is being done. I understand that when first created the CCC payment was low, but at the same time the organization housed the workers in barracks, which effectively raised the workers' income since they were not paying rent out of that income. Things like that would have to be tweaked to fit in the modern setting, but we could make it work.

[ceile]

4. Both my grandfathers worked in the CCC.

It was a trmendous help to them and the community.

[Kalyke]

7. What about young women?

Yes, young men need jobs, but so do young women.

I realize "Griff" is 91 and may not have realized that women aren't relegated to the kitchen and bedroom any longer. We have to be self-sufficient, as well, both due to the fact that we don't tend to marry until later in life on average, now, and because we may need to have careers outside the marriage both for fulfillment and in case there is a divorce and we have to support ourselves again.

[bean fidhleir]

11. Some people are too old to get it no matter how young they are

And others are young enough no matter how old they are.

Perhaps he's one of the former.

[Odin2005]

8. My 85yo grandmother agrees with him.

Time for a new New Deal.