FDR gets a lot of praise for basically forcing the New Deal Socialism on everyone. He and "Neo" both are presenting it in a nicely wrapped package with a pretty bow on top. You get all excited, but once you open the box, the present looks great, you play with the new toy for a few days and then you notice it starts to tear up. That is the problem with Socialism and Socialistic ideas, they look and sound great at the surface, kick the tires, so to speak and you begin to see it is actually a piece of junk. It also preys on the volunarable, catch someone down on their luck, promise them you can help and they will believe you.
Same here, my grandparents were good "Old-Southern Dixiecrats" FDR and Ike were almost god like in their eyes. Problem is, when I would ask them how the "Great Depression" affected them my grandmother would reply, "not to bad to be honest, we were already poor so we didn't know the difference". Confused me as to why they thought the world of FDR. The other set were Conservatives, my grandfather was leery of labeling himself to a political party. He didn't trust that some of the younger Republican were conservative enough.
I am sure that Thomas Sowell knew the impact of WWII, but I would assume that he was referencing the Vedder and Gallaway stats for the article. Good point to bring up, and I admit it escaped my mind, but he should have used how WWII impacted the economy if he really wanted to drive the point home to readers. +1 to you for bringing that up. I don't know how bad things would be if not for the WOT being conducted. Of course I am no economic guru (although I am certified to teach economics in AL high schools). Anyways, I know that if not, military funding would be less than it is now, and here in Huntsville we wouldn't have some of the contracts and jobs that we do have here in town. I know that the fear of having the military budget cut, has cost me an opportunity for a better paying job with another company. Most contracts and contractors are on holds and that government customers are reluctant to release any money until the new admin takes office and they can see what they are going to do. That is just here at home and all I can attest to, there is no telling what it would be like in other places if not for the WOT being conducted.
You can lump me in with those who have not overreacted. I haven't gone and cleared out my 401K, rat holed any money instead of putting it in savings or anything like that. I have seen people here at the office go into a panic here lately. I don't believe that it is as bad as the liberal media would have you think. If they can make you fear it is bad, and make you believe it is bad then their agenda is accomplished. They get their Socialist cohorts elected. For the life of me, I don't understand why people can't see the light and understand the Socialist agenda for what it truly is.