Quadsville

Suzanne, my wife, and I have just spent a week’s vacation at Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois.  What a magnificent place and thankfully it survived our state Governor’s budget slashing ax.  This is a living legacy of the New Deal, and there's a lot that we can learn from it.

The C.C.C. was founded in F.D.R.’s first hundred days in office and went out of business in 1942 as the economy began to reach near full employment due to WWII.  Arguably, it was one of the most popular and successful of all of the New Deal’s agencies.  It also opened its doors to minorities albeit in mostly a segregated fashion.   As one can see from the facilities here at Starved Rock, the C.C.C. built to last.  It was F.D.R.’s pet project.

The C.C.C.’s record demonstrates that the federal government can indeed design and implement effectively run programs to benefit the public good.  There were no scandals while waste and mismanagement were virtually non-existent. 

Over 3 million served in the C.C.C. during its tenure.  The crime rate amongst young men aged 18 to 25 dramatically decreased as young men went off to camps throughout the country under military like discipline.  Virtually all states and territories benefited from their presence.  Besides that, they earned money that went to their families while they had government provided room, board, clothing and training.  Employers showed preference in hiring to former C.C.C. workers for it was obvious that these workers knew how to put in a hard day’s work.

As we enter into what appears to be a serious downturn in our economy, let us hope that President-elect Barack Obama and Congress can be as creative as F.D.R. and Congress were in the midst of the Great Depression.  Let’s put people to work rebuilding and repairing our decaying infrastructure.  We have massive needs nationwide in our bridges, roads, etc. that have been allowed to deteriorate.  Let our pragmatic, innovative spirit prevail.

If you have not availed yourself of the opportunity to visit a C.C.C. built facility, take the time to do that.  If you like the outdoors at all, you are in for a treat.  Go tromping through the snow on a crisp, sunshiny winter day like we have had.  And, enjoy.  I think I hear Starved Rock calling you.

Art Pitz

The Professor’s House

www.professorshouse.net