We have bumper stickers! "Support the Troops!" But for the most part the American public does not take this war as a real war. By this I mean we aren't sacrificing at any level near we were in WWII. There aren't any billboards advertising War Bonds! Life in the U.S.A. is pretty much focused on garbage T.V. "Paris Hilton" The new I-Phone! vick somebody in the NFL. Yes there are stories of individuals who are giving their time to help encourage our troops and they are to be commended. Yet what has really happened here in the last 6 years is a lot of people (rich people) have become really really rich! More millionaires today thanks to Bush's policies. In my investment club we have been discussing the fact that service sectors that cater to the wealthy are doing really well. Meanwhile the middle-class has suffered from the fact that they represent most of our troops who have given up better paying jobs to serve in the "reserves" An yet these people continue to be the hstrongest supporters of Bush! go figure!
When we got into the war, I wondered if as a nation we would have the resolve to finish the job or if our character is so weak that we would soon be preoccupied with every setback or casualty. I was concerned that we lacked the moral fiber and resolve that the WWII vets who stormed Normandy seemed to demonstrate as well as the general public in their willingness to sacrifice for the larger goal. In listening to radio dramas from that period, war bonds, rationing, and victory gardens seemed a part of civic responsibility.
You are spot in your concern that we instead, as a society, are entertaining ourselves to death. For many, the war is fine as long as it does not interfere with our lifestyle and goals and does not affect our children. This is the direct result of making Choice the highest virtue.
As for the economy, I’m certainly no expert but I did have an annual review with my finance guy yesterday. (I have neither the time, interest or ability to manage my own investments). My well diversified portfolio has been growing steadily for the past few years.
My investments are doing well now because he explained that we have gone five or six years without the 10% market correction that traditionally happens every 13 months or so. Of course we were growing out of the historic .com bust so we had some ground to make up. Nevertheless, there doesn’t appear to be the floundering middle class that your group portrays though we could possibly get our 10% correction/bump next year with the uncertainty of an election year.
So the rich may get richer, but I don’t think it necessarily follows that everyone else gets screwed over. It is the investments of the rich that expands the economy, creates jobs, allows people to donate to charities that, in effect, pays my salary.
