And those who look back on those days with fondness probably don't recall being allowed, instead of purchasing butter, a rectangular block of hard, white lard called, "oleo" -- which came with a little packet or reddish dye that you could (laboriously, by hand) mix into to it to help fool yourself that you were eating butter.
And kids today would scoff at the nationally-advertised "toy guns" that were nothing more than a flat board cutout with a broomstick glued on top...
In a box of "old stuff", I recently found a nearly-filled book of "War Bond Savings Stamps" that, when full, could be swapped for a "U.S. War Bond". I wonder what it is worth now...
Actually, my family lived fairly well -- because we had our big "Victory Garden", raised rabbits for meat, and did lots of fishing. Can't help but wonder if urban folks remember "wartime prosperity" even as fondly as I do...
Of course, instead of "hard times" or "austerity", the propaganda of the day, called it "Patriotism".
“In a box of “old stuff”, I recently found a nearly- filled book of “War Bond filled book of “War Bond Savings Stamps” that, when full, could be swapped for a “U.S. War Bond”. I wonder what it is worth now... “U.S. War Bond”. I wonder”U.S. War Bond”. I wonder what it is worth now...”
I have a partially filled one of them and a partially used book of ration coupons.
It’s not war itself that makes us prosperous, but the forcing of technology that comes with it. WW II gave us nuclear energy, rocketry, autobahns, and a variety of rugged and miniaturized electronics. In five years of war, we accomplished technology advancements that would have required fifty years of peace.
This time around, it’s pilotless aircraft and thought-controlled prosthetics.