Classic Rural Electrification Act Video Sheds Light on Infrastructure Platforms

This 1940 film “Power and the Land” presents an encouraging history of the Rural Electrification Administration’s success in bringing electricity to the 90% of American farms that lacked it at the time of its 1935 creation by an Executive Order issued by FDR. The improvements in physical life — from the ease of getting water, keeping agricultural products fresh, and having an electric oven without the smoke and toil of a wood-fed iron stove — are complemented with improvements in mental life. With less time working, there’s more time for reading, and bright electric lights don’t require cleaning and refilling like kerosene lanterns. Footage of before-and-after approaches to several farm tasks demonstrate just how profound an impact is created by electrification. All people deserve the best tools man can make. And plentiful, affordable electricity is one of the greatest tools! Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZchKXFpaDg