GDG- Re: CS supply

[Biggsk at aol.com]

Margaret writes:

>>>Not only did the "greasy mechanics" who remained in the  workforce assist 
the Union war effort, but the ones in uniform did as well, in  identifying and 
remedying problems they came  across.>>>
 
Much like in World War 2 where the car-crazed GI's often used their own  
mechanical skills and fixes to keep trucks and tanks rolling.



>>>>True, no people who have any degree of  democracy can manage to maintain 
an wartime industrial level indefinitely, but  the Union simply had a stronger 
base to build upon, particularly in the area  of railroads. Furthermore, 
probably due to ideological reasons, the  Confederate government was far slower 
than Lincoln to come to the realization  that, in wartime, government control 
or, at the very least, coordination of  certain critical parts of the 
infrastructure, particularly the railroads was  essential.>>>>
A total war will eventually bankrupt the nation.  In the Spring of  1863 the 
Union War Department was way behind in paying its bills to suppliers to  keep 
the war going.  I know that Lincoln imposed the first income taxes in  history 
but I have not studied this aspect enough to see how they got out of the  
financial hole.
 
Just before we invaded Iwo Jima in World War 2, the US government was  
bankrupt!  Not a penny in the Federal treasury!  It was the win there  that enabled 
a big war bonds drive that pumped further billions into the coffers  to win 
the war.  This might not have happened had FDR's tax policy before  the war not 
been so counter-productive to growth, at last to this level as there  would 
have been far more capital in circulation, but the war bonds saved the day  
financially.

 
Your stated ideological reasons are correct.  One side did it - the  other 
did not.  Guess who won?
 
Greg Biggs



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