# If we have another Great Depression, how might it differ from the last one **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 11, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529 "2008-10-11T23:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/21 "2008-10-13T11:37:47Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > The music won’t be as good. Also, people won’t dress \*nearly \*as well. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/22 "2008-10-13T14:39:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Also, people won’t dress \*nearly \*as well. Speak for yourself. Brooks Brothers is having a kick-ass sale on suits, pants and shirts. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/23 "2008-10-13T14:49:24Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Also, people won’t dress \*nearly \*as well. That’s what I was thinking. The main difference will be far, far fewer hats in the soup line. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/24 "2008-10-13T15:04:21Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > That’s what I was thinking. The main difference will be far, far fewer hats in the soup line. You read my mind. Not nearly so many hats in this one. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/25 "2008-10-13T15:07:26Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What’s wrong with using all the surplus housing that was created? There’s not a shortage of residential buildings. Yeah, but how are you going to do that? The government would have to buy it (or commandeer it/claim it under eminent domain which is a whole other mess) for fair market values, which could further the recession. For example: Joe Blow Construction company builds a house for $100k (for materials alone, for the sake of argument). Uncle $am buys it for a “public housing venture” for, say $50k. Joe Blow takes a hit. There’s nothing wrong with all of the surplus housing. What the problem is, is in the _percieved_ value of the housing–artificially inflated over several years, which is from what I understand, one of the main roots of the current problem. Besides, how are you going to _move_ people into that housing? You can’t _force_ people to move short of civil order/martial law. But for the OP: 1. I would be alive. 2. The current standing army is huge compared to that of the Depression era. That, and with an ongoing war, and all of the other garrisoned ‘hot-spots’ like Korea, it would prove to be a drain on what fledgling funds the government could generate. The nuclear weapons would be secured at all costs, however. 3. The global economy is much easier to navigate, and I can see the imports growing to an all time high for durable goods like clothes, cars, appliances, etc. IIRC, those goods are usually cheaper to produce overseas/outside the CONUS. 4. IIRC, the Chinese own like, 75% of the American debt in bonds and such. I can see the flailing economy triggering them to come calling for the outstanding debt, and when they do, everyone else we owe money to comin’ a-callin’ as well. This puts a run on our system, and [Conspiracy Nut]the next Great War erupts: the first truly Economic War[/Conspiracy Nut]. Tripler But beyond that, it’s all sunshiny days, unicorns, roses, and rivers of milk and honey. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/26 "2008-10-13T15:14:13Z")
I don’t think women will draw their stocking seams on their legs. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/27 "2008-10-13T15:23:04Z")
It will be suffered with far less dignity that the Graet Depression. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/28 "2008-10-13T15:30:52Z")
Instead of trying to put six additional justices on the Supreme Court, President Obama will compromise and only try for three. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/29 "2008-10-13T15:49:35Z")
Fewer pickle barrels being worn in lieu of clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/30 "2008-10-13T17:23:30Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > Fewer pickle barrels being worn in lieu of clothes. Expect to see people wearing Dell boxes instead. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/31 "2008-10-13T17:27:28Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Expect to see people wearing Dell boxes instead. Too bad Gateway went out of business. I’d much rather have a cow box to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/32 "2008-10-13T17:53:23Z")
What was so Great about the Depression anyway? I think we should call this one the iDepression. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/33 "2008-10-13T19:07:50Z")
Remember those 1930’s photos? Guys in 3-piece suits elling apples on the sidewalks? I’m gonna add a twist-I’ll sell truffles and gourmet lattes-and get rich! ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/34 "2008-10-13T20:23:52Z")
> [@Madd\_Maxx](#): > > What was so Great about the Depression anyway? I think we should call this one the iDepression. Yes! Instead of selling apples on streetcorners, we can sell iPhone apps. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/35 "2008-10-14T07:23:51Z")
Hobos will pin easy marks on Google Earth… > [@Equipoise](#): > > Luckily there won’t be a dust bowl to accompany the next Depression. > > Depression-era music was fantastic (see: **O Brother, Where Art Thou?** soundtrack), but as always, as it always has been through the ages, there will always be good music. It’ll be good in a different way, but of course most people won’t hear most of it. I had this pet theory of mine that great music is born at times and areas of social turmoil or unrest. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529/36 "2008-10-14T20:29:26Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > You read my mind. Not nearly so many hats in this one. Great minds think alike. Hats and soup lines are the first thing I thought about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-we-have-another-great-depression-how-might-it-differ-from-the-last-one/467529.md?page=1)