I think you'll find a lot of American's who would be happy with longer vacation times, smaller military spending and national health care in one form or another. I don't want to follow the European model, but let's be honest about the current situation and say we could learn something from the rest of the world.

wine club

Our problem as I see it, and I don't consider myself either a socialist or protectionist, is that big money pretty much calls all of the shots. Just look at our huge trade deficit. For you that don't have a clue, it is over $7 trillion the last 20 years. I hear all of the screaming decrying excessive spending, which I agree is out of hand, but no one seems to care about our trade deficit. It's because there is just too much money to be made by sending our industrial base to China. If it wasn't for Boeing our trade deficit would be much greater.

We have been betrayed by both the Democrats and Republicans. I am simply amazed at how many people still have their head in the sand. Okay, you can go and listen to Rush and Sean now..

The economic problems we are experiencing started in the banking and mortgage businesses. There aren't many business in this country that WERE ALREADY AS TIGHTLY REGULATED as the banking and mortgage businesses but the people who buy into the propaganda of the socialists somehow can't see this. Instead, they believe that EVEN MORE regulation would have somehow saved us from this. Ridiculous. At what point do hopefully somewhat intelligent people start to see through the myths and the lies and the propaganda of the left? At what point do people see the contradictions unfolding before our very eyes?

Look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in particular. They were at the very epicenter of the economic meltdown we are in. They are so regulated that they are actually quasi-governmental institutions that are run, at least indirectly, by the federal government. That massive federal oversight didn't stop the problems that arose in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did it? In fact, the endless tinkering, cronyism, shady dealing, and God knows what else that the (almost all Democrat) politicians who were controlling Fannie and Freddie engaged in no doubt set the stage for those institutions' falling apart like they did.

I will take an unregulated private sector profit-seeking business over a corrupt government regulated and run institution or economy any day. Because if private sector businesses abuse me or their customers I can take my business elsewhere and so can everybody else. With government run institutions and heavy-handed regulations we're all affected with little or no recourse.

MDCragg | http://www.suburbanvoice.com

After all that has happened recently in the economic world, I'm still amazed at those who push for unfettered capitalism. When will you all admit that the fox cannot keep guarding the henhouse?? Unless that is you are the fox!!