On May 15th, 1942, gasoline rationing began in 17 Eastern states as an attempt to help the American war effort during World War II. The main concern behind the rationing scheme was conserving scarce imported rubber, rather than fuel. By the end of the year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ensured that mandatory gasoline rationing was in effect in all 48 states.
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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest
Today we present another entry for Round 82 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize:
- A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
- A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value),
- A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
- DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
- Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
- A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
- American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
Second Prize:
- A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
- A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
- A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
- A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
- Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
- An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).
Third Prize:
- A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
- A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
- Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
- Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
- Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.
Round 82 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
I don’t know if the rationing during WW2 was necessary or not. I suspect it may have been but some sources would lead me to believe that it was for show.
I did read however in Thomas Sowell’s book “Basic Economics” that the whole 70’s gas crisis was a Jimmy Carter fabrication. There was an embargo however if I recall correctly Sowell claims that rationing started before the embargo by a few days at least. Sowell’s paints a picture of Carter being completely in bed with the Arabs.
I would have no way of really verifying this claim but with some of Carter’s anti-Semitic comments in recent years, you have to wonder.
If Carter believed the Embargo would come or was likely to come, rationing early would´ve been a good move.
There is a difference between intentional abuse and error of judgement with good intentions.
In hindsigh you know better, but you can only deal in the Moment with the Situation and ressources you´ve available
Carter’s presidency and his efforts to destroy our country should have spawned a thousand books. He was undoubtedly the worst president ever until Obama was elected. His “mistakes” and bad decisions were so rampant that it is impossible to believe it was not intentional sabotage of our country. At least we know Obama’s actions were intentional sabotage of America.
🙂 I put Carter second to FDR, Obama third.
FDR with his typical facist actions
Diesel vs. Gasoline,
Buses, tractors, barges, ships, trains, farm equipment, construction equipment, delivery trucks, fire trucks, most ambulances, for the most part all use diesel.
If the government wants to reduce oil consumption, they can reduce the amount of gasoline being produced. Society goes on, private transport is greatly diminished.
Which is probably why the govt. seems to stifle any kind of private use, diesel powered, car, truck, or van.
I would love to have a low priced, diesel street legal vehicle right now, just a small jeep or truck.
For common folks, I don’t think we will see gasoline rationing again, just no gasoline…