DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ESTABLISHED SOME PROGRAMS THAT HELPED THE UNEMPLOYED.  WE HAD THE CCC (CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORP) THAT EMPLOYED MANY YOUNG MEN THAT PLANTED MILLIONS OF TREES IN MICHIGAN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.  THE PAY WAS NOT GREAT, BUT HOUSING AND FOOD WERE FURNISHED IN ARMY LIKE BARRACKS.  WE STILL SEE THE RESULTS AND THE EXPENDITURE FROM THE FEDERAL BUDGET WAS SMALL.  THEN WE HAD THE WPA (WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION) WHICH PUT MANY UNEMPLOYED TO WORK AT PUBLIC PROJECTS-ROADS, BRIDGES AND BEAUTIFICATION.  WE STILL BENEFIT FROM THEIR EFFORTS.  WE HAD THE RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) TO HELP BUSINESS GET BACK IN THE MAINSTREAM, WITH GOVERNMENT HELP.  

WE DID NOT HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, BUT MONEY INVESTED BY GOVERNMENT WENT DIRECTLY INTO PAYCHECKS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.  IT HELPED MILLIONS GET THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION.  ONE OTHER PROGRAM WAS THE NYA (NATIONAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATION) THAT HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH THINGS LIKE CUSTODIAL WORK A FEW HOURS A WEEK.  AS WAR SEEMED IMMINENT, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WERE TRAINED TO WORK IN THE WAR PLANTS UNDER NYA.  

YES EVENTUALLY IT WAS THE WAR THAT PUT THE COUNTRY BACK ON ITS FEET, BUT THE DIRECT HELP WAS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE STIMULUS PACKAGE NOW. THE TAXPAYERS GOT A BIGGER BANG FOR THEIR BUCK

 COMPARE THE ROOSEVELT PROGRAMS TO THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE TODAY TO HELP THE UNEMPLOYED.  WORK WITH A SMALL PAY CHECK OR UNEMPLOYMENT PAY, DEPENDENT ON THE WHIMS OF CONGRESS.  

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?