When there’s a draft, who pays the monthly bills? I wouldn’t think that the women were responsible, especially back in WWII, where there was a much larger number of women that were housewives. So, since no one was working anymore, who paid the morgage? Car payment? Water, gas, electric bills? Did the women working in steel factories make enough to cover the family expenses? Did the utility companies allow everyone that was in the war to not have to pay their bills, and then did everyone owe a bunch of money when the war was over? Does the military pay them?
I think most draftees sent their paychecks home to their families. Also there were lots of charities that helped the families of soldiers (dead and alive).
First of all, in WWII, the vast majority of American people of working age were not drafted and did not go.
Second, Those that did go into the army were paid well by the U.S. Government, and men with families sent their pay home.
Three, the women working in factories made a lot of money.
Four, Due to rationing and shortages of non-military goods, people simply couldn’t spend as much money as they would have otherwise. Even if income was reduced, so were the opportunities for discretionary spending.
Five, People who were able helped family and friends through the hard times. Charities and organizations also helped.
If a draft is instituted now, I expect the same things to happen.
Also, the country was just coming out of The Great Depression so very few people had much debt.
Nobody knew what a credit card was during WWII or the Korean War.
First let me say that I doubt seriously that the draft will be reinstated. Having said that, I find it very refreshing that this generation is having to at least consider the idea of being drafted. That and just the idea of serving your country.
Well, I know that my grandmother did have a job during WWII, and I don’t think it was a Rosie-the-Riveter type of job (I think she worked in a grocery store, but I’m not quite certain.) My great-grandmother came to live with her and take care of my father (who was a baby then) during the day. I have the feeling that it was not that unusual for women, even married women, to have jobs during the war, but they were encouraged to give them up when the men came home.
The military did pay, but I got the impression that it wasn’t that much for your average draftee. I might be wrong, though.
kniz, I’m not sure what you mean by “this generation”, but when I was in high school during the Persian Gulf War, I remember having quite a few conversations with people over whether or not the draft would be reinstated then. In fact, I think there was an article in our school newspaper about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if people were considering the possibility now.