Yes, but as you said, everyone knew it was temporary and not to mention the overwhelming majority of the populace at the time had just lived through WW2 and were used to hardships like that.
Today, those who actually experienced real war (even if it was just as a civilian and dealing with shortages) are in their late 70's or older. Even worse however is how much technology and society has changed in the last 50 years. It would be one thing to say "Hey, for the next 6 months you're going to have to make due with 30% of the energy you are used to", it is something else entirely to say "for the rest of your life you are going to have to make due with 30% of the energy you are used to".
There are entire industries which would simply be out of business with the rationing that would be needed, this is especially true in areas dominated by tourism and travel.
People are very good at making due with short term disruptions, however significant and perminant rationing is a separate issue entirely. In fact imposing rationing would be a far worse economic shock than allowing it to develop naturally through the price system as Oil became more scarce because there would be no time to adjust. For example, I was smart enough to buy a home a mere 4 miles (6 Km) from where I work, but several people I work with live more than 10 times that distance. Cut their access to gas by 20% and they would be out of a job for no reason other than they would not be able to get enough gas to get to work at any price and they live too far away to get there by any other means (out in the country where mass transit would actually be less efficient than personal vehicles even). However, if the price of gas rose at 3 times the rate of inflation for the next 20 years as Oil becomes more scarce then they would have time to adjust to the increasing costs and relocate to a home closer to work as their commuting expenses rose.
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Date: 31/5/10 14:25 (UTC)Today, those who actually experienced real war (even if it was just as a civilian and dealing with shortages) are in their late 70's or older. Even worse however is how much technology and society has changed in the last 50 years. It would be one thing to say "Hey, for the next 6 months you're going to have to make due with 30% of the energy you are used to", it is something else entirely to say "for the rest of your life you are going to have to make due with 30% of the energy you are used to".
There are entire industries which would simply be out of business with the rationing that would be needed, this is especially true in areas dominated by tourism and travel.
People are very good at making due with short term disruptions, however significant and perminant rationing is a separate issue entirely. In fact imposing rationing would be a far worse economic shock than allowing it to develop naturally through the price system as Oil became more scarce because there would be no time to adjust. For example, I was smart enough to buy a home a mere 4 miles (6 Km) from where I work, but several people I work with live more than 10 times that distance. Cut their access to gas by 20% and they would be out of a job for no reason other than they would not be able to get enough gas to get to work at any price and they live too far away to get there by any other means (out in the country where mass transit would actually be less efficient than personal vehicles even). However, if the price of gas rose at 3 times the rate of inflation for the next 20 years as Oil becomes more scarce then they would have time to adjust to the increasing costs and relocate to a home closer to work as their commuting expenses rose.