653
If a Great Depression happened again, would people still stand together like they did during the penny auctions? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
172 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/54239937

During the Great Depression, when banks foreclosed on farms, neighbors often showed up at the auctions together.

They’d bid only a few cents, and return the land to the family that lost it. Sometimes a noose hung nearby as a warning to outsiders not to profit from someone else’s ruin.

It was rough, but it worked, communities protected each other when the system wouldn’t.

If a collapse like that happened today, do you think people would still stand together or has that kind of solidarity disappeared? Could it happen again?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

I agree that this could happen as you described because of online bidding & buying. But any new owners and/or renovation crews show up, I think people could make that new purchase WAY most costly. Word would eventually get around and no one would want to accept those jobs.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    I think the only way to realistically fight back is if all the tradespeople refuse to work on a foreclosed property.

    It's possible, or the land owners could simply bring in someone from out of state (or province, or whatever it is where you are)...

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent