During World War II, the government encouraged carpooling because they needed the gas and rubber for the war (source). Here is a sample of the propaganda:
This one is, as it appears, by Dr. Seuss:
The next two are from the State of Ohio:
In the comments, both Eoin and Toban B. (T.B.) pointed us to this poster (found here).
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 16
T B — September 20, 2008
There's another poster and a little commentary here -
http://tobanblack.net/blog/?p=28
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And there's another one in this comment -
http://www.relocalize.net/oil_politics#comment-1874
T B — September 20, 2008
In his book Blood and Oil, Klare -- while discussing policy documents, and other government practices and structures -- shows how the U.S. government assumes that there will be ever-increasing demand for oil.
Of course, there are a lot of structural inclinations in that direction of more and more oil demands and dependencies --
most notably, an energy industry that profits because of demands for the stuff, and automobile companies that sell oil-fuelled vehicles
The U.S. government is going with that flow, so to speak.
Regarding ties with the energy industry, here's a symbolic scandal -
http://www.desmogblog.com/sex-drugs-oil-and-u-s-government
There's more to all of the foreign policy interventions in and around the Middle East (given the Christian Right, the Israeli State Zionists, the military-industrial complex, and so on and so on), but obviously there is a major oil factor.
Natural gas is very sought after as well -- though not much of it will be shipped across the ocean.
po — September 20, 2008
.... but please remember, we were also drilling like crazy back then. It was unthinkable back then that any country would ever, EVER put itself at peril by not using its own natural resources.
Eoin O\'Mahony — September 22, 2008
And try this out for size:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/use_it_up/images_html/ride_with_hitler.html
Eoin — September 22, 2008
And try this on for size:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/use_it_up/images_html/ride_with_hitler.html
Will — September 22, 2008
Here's my suggestion....
"When you drive a gas-guzzling SUV, the whole Bin Laden family rides with you!"
Imagine how Americans would react to a poster like that...
(Not to denigrate a good Saudi family, but they have gotten incredibly rich off of selling us oil, and one of their scions is after all America's greatest enemy)
Sociological Images » WORLD WAR II PROPAGANDA TO STAY OFF THE PHONES — February 20, 2009
[...] that we simply do not expect Americans to sacrifice today. Specifically, my post addresses how people were encouraged to save gas and carpool (”Hitler rides in the empty seat!”), but people made all sorts of sacrifices: from going [...]
Fuel — April 5, 2009
Lol, great pictures! :) Nowadays people should carpool more too.
Random political image thread - Page 109 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS — April 24, 2013
[...] [...]
Benjamin M. A'Lee — May 13, 2013
> yet, there is no government propaganda (that I am aware of) that seriously encourages conservation
Surely it's because WW2 was not *about* the resources, but the resources were needed in order to fight the war, whereas the current/recent conflicts have been fought to protect the supply of oil in order to continue selling it, and thus reducing the demand through encouraging conservation would be counterproductive.
Top 8 des affiches américaines en faveur du covoiturage, le partage comme effort de guerre - EntretempsEntretemps — September 28, 2013
[...] photo : The Society [...]
Rashedul — June 18, 2014
Thanks for an interesting blog. What I find most remarkable is that both teams have managed to grow their match day income despite the economical crises in Spain. How have they managed that, is it the pre-season tours that generate the growth or is it the local Spanish supporters that spend more money on football? Compared to German teams like Dortmund it is really striking how much more revenue per spectator they make. Montreal Carpooling
Lyft co-founder says fee-based smart lanes will end traffic – 247 News Online — January 17, 2017
[…] president and cofounder John Zimmer, who researched such posters for a Medium blog post Tuesday titled “The End of Traffic: Increasingly American Prosperity […]
Let’s get patriotic about car-pooling again: Lyft co-founder – 247 News Online — January 18, 2017
[…] president and cofounder John Zimmer, who researched such posters for a Medium blog post Tuesday titled “The End of Traffic: Increasingly American Prosperity […]
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