NEVER PAY MORE THAN THE LEGAL PRICE

Recently, an item from my past was returned, a booklet called "War Ration Book Four". It was issued to me but clearly warns that it "remains the property of the United States Government". Also, "it is a criminal offense to violate rationing regulations". It was issued by the United States Office of Price Administration, and on the back it states, "Never buy rationed goods without ration stamps. Never pay more than the legal price". And, "Important: When you have used your ration, salvage the Tin Cans and Waste Fats. They are needed to make munitions for our fighting men. Cooperate with your local Salvage Committee." The booklet was printed by the U.S. Government printing Office: 1943.

Inside are the pages of stamps. Some are marked "Coffee", many simply "Spare" and others of different colors and symbols bearing a single number and a single letter. (I need to research the indications here.) I remember that sugar was also rationed and, of course, gasoline. Other than that, the memories are of a more personal nature: bare feet sinking in the hot sand of country roads, being scared, but riding the huge work horse anyway, running to meet Grandpa coming out of the barn with buckets of milk, cool water hand pumped from a well, wheat harvests, and outhouses ...to mention a few. Uh oh, I think I just committed a "divert your attention" tactic.

The point is, if we complete the circle and arrive back at the same situation, we won't have the hassle of the booklets and tiny stamps to worry about! It will all be handled at a central location by, yes more government workers. In theory, each citizen will be well documented, then issued X number of available " units" for each product. This information will be programed into all retail oulets and your receipts will indicate remaining "units" for each product purchased. Careful!, if you spend all of your "units" before the allotted time, how will you feed your family?

No, that couldn't happen....Could it?