Today is not 1938

Here is a letter I wrote to the NY Times suggesting we don't repeat the "stimulus" that was WWII.

Comparing today’s situation to the environment of 1938 is a dangerous thing to do (1938 in 2010, Sept. 5) especially when the prescribed cure for the economy is spending on a scale not seen since World War II.

Does Dr. Krugman suggest that we forcefully conscript millions of able-bodied individuals into government service? Does he imply that the home front was a lovely place to live with its rationing and shortages? Should we today, as a nation, resort to these same policies?

If we would only take a look at what actually occurred during WWII (a noble cause no doubt) we would see what occurred was vast hardship to overcome dictatorships that wished to dominate the world, a sacrifice of wealth and prosperity for years to ensure possibilities for decades. Today is not 1938.

Sincerely,

Campbell Fritschner