Read this sentence from the text. "On factory walls and bulletin boards, series after series of posters directed employees to get to work â€" anything less was practically treason." Why might the author have included the phrase “anything less was practically treason”?

The author, John Knowles, claims that the war was used by manufacturers and factory owners as a way to exercise more control over their workforce. By arguing that the war (WWII) needed their support, workers were forced to increase productivity, take less breaks, dissolve unions, and make other sacrifices in order to increase production. The bosses and the government pushed the idea of the workers no longer being just factory employees, but instead being direct contributors to the fight. This patriotic concept meant that a worker who did not work as hard as possible was practically committing "treason" as he was undermining the war effort.