From: "Kismet" <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:08:59 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Weathering the Recession Warren Buffet says we ARE in


In the vein of keeping it in context,
The average income during the 1930's depression (in the U.S, it was a lot 
worse in Canada, Germany and Australia) was $1500.00 so a new Hudson 
Automobile cost one third of a families average total yearly income....about 
$24,000 today BUT with unemployment ie NO INCOME AT ALL at about 25% or 9.1 
million workers (multiply by average family size to find out how many people 
were destitute in the US alone) a $50 per month house was a distant fantasy 
for many people...what all this shows is that there were some people who 
were VERY well off during the depression at the expense of many 
others....Welcome to the future.

Daniel du Kismet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <LSnyder262-AT-aol.com>
To: <puppen-AT-mac.com>; <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 3:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Weathering the Recession Warren Buffet says we ARE 
in



In a message dated 4/25/08 6:32:50 PM, puppen-AT-mac.com writes:


> Just so we have some context ( and because I love this stuff)
>
> 15 cents in 1935 is approximately $2.67 in 2007 dollars (when was the
> last time gas was that price?)
> $500.00 in 1935 is about $7,677.00
> However, $50.00 was the equivalent of $615.00 in 1931, rose sharply to
> $767.00 in 1935 and dropped to $726.00 in 1939
>
> Very few communities had sales tax. Income tax was much lower. There
> were certainly fewer business taxes, etc.
>
> Unfortunately, your cost of doing business will increase with
> additional taxes, licensing requirements, etc. (NY is already
> considering increasing the sales tax on services)
>
> Jon
>
And for a little more context...

Middle class standards were much different in the 30s. In a middle class
family, the mom would own maybe three dresses, two skirts, 3 blouses, 2 
pairs of
shoes, and that was an acceptable wardrobe. Today, we simply demand more,
because the norm has shifted.

Homes had just one bathroom, and that was considered the norm.

A family owned just one car, if they were lucky.

The family had one radio, one phonograph, and a few records. Any other home
entertainment consisted of card games, parlor games, and for the kids, just
going outside to play (and a puppet show now and then, if they were lucky).

Kids, if they were lucky, had a bicycle. And they used that bicycle after
they were 16 -- no car for the 16th birthday.

Time- and work-saving conveniences we can't imagine living without --
microwave, washer/dryer, A/C, cell phones, more than a single landline phone 
in the
home, were either luxuries (or not even invented yet).

People (make that mostly women) worked a lot harder to keep a home running.
BUT, in a typical 1930s family, IF dad had a job, his income alone would
provide for his family, so mom could stay home and spend her entire day 
raising
kids, doing housework, laundry, cooking, and sewing (remember sewing all 
your own
clothes, anyone? Or darning socks?).

Add to that, that the average number of hours worked per week has risen 
since
the 30s, and a nice fat pension from the company where dad worked for 40
years is close to disappearing today.

OK, I'm now depressed, so I'll stop.

Linda


**************
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used
car listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
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