A real Depression

America seems to be in a bit of a funk. I do not ever remember so many worried about so much. Well, it caused me to look back at some history at the "real" depression. You know, the one we all talked and studied about in our history books. I was especially interested in how President Hoover responded after the stock market crash.
I must admit that I have not had the time to do an exhaustive research on the matter but enough that a trend seems to have emerged. The crash caught him and many economic advisers by surprise. Of course if there are two econ advisers in the room, then you have three opinions anyway. But Hoover thought that it would be short lived and he did not see the need for radical decisions. He really believed he just needed to show a steady hand and the country would move through this moment in time. Maybe it would have worked, but the economic trouble was compounded by a severe drought and dust bowl era. America wanted action and direction, not just a steady hand at the helm.
The hatred toward this president seemed to be growing throughout his term. During his reelection campaign against Roosevelt, he even received a telegram asking him to vote for FDR so the vote would be unanimous. Of course he lost and the FDR era began. It was said by one writer that before Hoover left the White House for the last time, that he standing staring out a window, with red eyes because he had apparently wept over what all had happened to him and the country during his time.
The reality seems to be that he never truly realized the situation the country was in. Maybe he did not want to believe it; maybe he just wanted to deny it. He just seemed to never have a handle on all that had happened.
You and I want to deny things as well. We just do not want to think about it or even admit something is wrong. When things are wrong, you have little hope for the future and confidence in any direction. You question everything and trust nothing.
But I am a believer. And as a believer, I have hope. I think our greatest days could be ahead of us, not behind us.
As has been said, in the end the pessimist might be right. But the optimist enjoys the trip a lot more.
Jim Lagrone