I was researching an article proposal I’m writing and I stumbled across this:
The message of this poster, “If you don’t need it, don’t buy it” seems appropriate with the current economic crisis and the impening holiday rush. I like making Christmas more about family than about material goods anyway. But it feels like many people are just waking up to this concept of only buying what you need and can afford now that their stock portfolios have lost nearly half their value if not more.
Ironic that this economic crisis has put many Americans in a wartime mindset. Hang on. Aren’t we in a war now?? Wait, make that two wars. And do we hear those with their hands on the reins asking us to conserve in a time when our nation’s resources are being stretched to the max. Nope. Bush’s mantra (albeit quieted now because of increased attention to the absurdity of it) is go about your business as usual. Spend money. By going into debt you are helping our economy. A message companies like AIG and others took to heart.
The irony and sadistic humor in it all, is that in some ways Mr. A and I couldn’t be happier. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve lost money and are strapped for cash just like everyone else. The future does not look rosy in our eyes, but the upside is that we see more people paying attention to their actions. It has forced us to start using our bikes and taking the bus more than we used to. We are cutting back, trying to spend within our means, wasting less and conserving more. And so are more and more people. Isn’t this the message environmentalists and conservationists have been preaching for over a decade?? I’m sad it took $4/gallon gas to really make hybrids and public transporation so popular but I’m glad it happened nontheless.
In looking at a lot of these WWII era posters, both American and Canadian, I was struck by how much the messages are pertinent and useful now. Like the fashions of the 60s, 70s and 80s, even messages like these seem to be coming back into style.
The Ohio Historical Society remarks that, ”Posters, such as these, helped mobilize the nation for World War II. They called for sacrifice and participation. Citizens were asked to contribute time and money, to produce products, to conserve resources, and to contribute to the war effort in personal ways.” What happened to this attitude? Are we so insulated by material goods that the concept of sacrifice has become alien and scary? Posters like these and the others listed with them make the phrase “Support the Troops” take on a whole new meaning, and leave the yellow ribbons I see decorating the rear end of SUVs a lot more empty.
And it makes me appreciate all the more the attitude of unity and change that President-elect Obama is trying to promote. I listened to his victory speech from Grant Park with the admiration a writer has for a well-written piece, and the hope of an American that wants to see a change – in our politics, in our foreign policy, in our attitudes toward war, our Earth, and the needs of our citizens at home. In his words, “So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that [. . .] in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”
I don’t want another war, I don’t want a bigger war. I don’t want our nation to be as desperate and strapped for resources as we were during the first and second World Wars. But the idea of sacrifice and conservation don’t need to be such scary things that we’ll spend ourselves into bankruptcy to avoid them. Maybe I’m trying to convince myself that tightening our belts is not a bad thing. Maybe I’m trying to understand why our government continues to reward overspending (and overspend itself), and is so afraid of asking Americans to change the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to that they’ll do anything to maintain our status quo.
In looking at a lot of these posters Mr. A and I wondered what the reaction would be if we started posting some of them around town. We figured that this one might turn a few heads,
but that the more modern parodies might be a bit more pertinent and possibly get more attention (be it positive or negative. Call me a devil’s advocate but does anyone have the money to rent billboard space? Could be fun to see the affect it has 
