[grellis]

The dustbowl scenario, millions packing up and leaving, is little more than myth. In fact, the majority of families whose lives were affected by the dustbowl years stayed put, and it turned out to be a wise decision for most of them.

The families that moved to CA had no money to buy or rent a home, and there were no real job prospects. They ended up living in absolute squalor, tent villages with other dustbowl migrant families. No electricity, no running water, no plumbing of any kind.

The families who stayed put in the hard-hit states suffered greatly, but they suffered (for the most part) in their own homes, surrounded by their families and their neighbors. There was a really great docu on this just two weeks ago, prolly History Channel. If a farm was coming up for foreclosure auction, all the local landowners would agree to bid pennies on the dollar, low-ball the heck out of the land, so the family facing eviction could stay put.

Today's families would have to be mental to pack up and go unless they had guaranteed employment on the other end. If a job were guaranteed, for a lot of families in MI, I think they would be best off walking away from their homes here...but only if that job was assured.

Go with the devil you know.

[Dianna]

The families that moved to CA had no money to buy or rent a home, and there were no real job prospects. They ended up living in absolute squalor, tent villages with other dustbowl migrant families. No electricity, no running water, no plumbing of any kind.

Yet, somehow my family survived :)