Remembering Will and Wiley

It is hard to open the newspaper, watch television, or surf the internet these days without reading about one economic crisis after the other. While not as grave as the Great Depression, there are already some similarities. The market’s point loss this past year was its worst ever.

The Great Depression began in the United States on October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed. Known as Black Tuesday, the incident began a series of chaotic events that spread throughout the world, lasting until the beginning of World War II.

Our present economic crisis did not happen overnight and nothing we do to cure it will work quickly. Until our economy rights itself, the best we can do is view this event in the right frame of mind and keep a positive outlook. One way to accomplish this is with humor and these serious times reminded me that one of the greatest humorists during the Great Depression was Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers

Rogers was born in Indian Territory in 1879. He was a cowpoke, writer, actor, part Cherokee Indian and all American. He wrote over two million words during his lifetime and became famous for his simple philosophy that transcended party lines and “BS.” Here are just a few of his quotes.

“Democrats never agree on anything, that's why they're Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans.”

“A fool and his money are soon elected.”

“A remark generally hurts in proportion to its truth.”

“About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation.”

“Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need.”

“Alexander Hamilton started the U.S. Treasury with nothing, and that was the closest our country has ever been to being even.”

“All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance.”

“An economist's guess is liable to be as good as anybody else's.”

“Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.”

“Don't gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don't go up, don't buy it.”

“Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”

“Everything is funny as long as it is happening to someone else.”

“I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”

“Liberty doesn't work as well in practice as it does in speeches.”

“When the Okies left Oklahoma and moved to California, it raised the I.Q. of both states.”

“Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.”

“This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.”

“The more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best.”

“I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!”

"The minute you read something that you can't understand, you can almost be sure it was drawn up by a lawyer."

"The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter-he's got to just know.”

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"

“The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you.”

"Things will get better-despite our efforts to improve them."

“Do the best you can, and don't take life too serious.”

“Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.”

“You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is.”

Will Rogers loved flying and died at the age of fifty-five when the plane of he and Oklahoma aviation legend Wiley Post crashed near Barrow, Alaska. Rogers was only fifty-five but he left a legacy of humor and truths that resound to this day. Next time you feel like crying, get on the internet and Google some of Roger’s quotes; then smile, pick yourself up and get after it again.

Louisiana Mystery Writer