Society, which one?

I have read a lot and listened a lot, and I bet, so has the reader.

What I see in my world is:
The coming of maybe even No Unions;
A last attempt by the Corporate and Wall Street group to enlarge their bonus and income pools;
The disappearance of the middle class as I have known it;
A powerless government incapable of governing, where they need to;
A corporate state, where the interest and well-being of the masses are being left out = a capitalist state.

I heard from some that this country is moving in the direction of socialism, "meaning" that the members of society feel a responsibility toward one another.

My conclusion, based on the above painted picture is that this country is
in the ban of capitalistic socialism, meaning: the wealthy take care of their
own kind, while fiercely protecting their individual rights regardless of the
repercussions to the broader participants in society. In my opinion, this
model will eventually break down. No one will come out a "winner".

"Everything going wrong" always seems to be someone else's fault. We don't sit down together - members of all persuasions and debate, discuss and solve. We are in need of dialogue. Not monologues (news paper articles, one man shows, etc.). From a philosophical point of view, there seems to be little difference between now and the Middle Ages. "L'histoire se repete!"

I can imagine that this will get a negative reaction from the reader.

I am very much in favor of a healthy capitalistic system together with a firm and well educated middle class, from which the entrepreneurs can spawn and can grow into capitalists, respecting the middle class from which they came. I live in a society, not by myself. We need to have a sense of responsibility toward one another. Then "my" system can work.

I'll keep listening and discussing. To-morrow I may see things differently.

20-some year olds and their BMWs!

What am I to think, when I see a really young student get in his/her brand new BMW sport? Don't we have a financial crisis on our hands? I realize that I live in a section of town where most of the privileged circulate, but still, is this what we can continue to live with - a field of dreams?

What are these youth going to think and do when they are not immediately being hired upon graduation? Yes, I heard stories of proud students being interviewed, who were laughing when they asked and got 6-figure beginning salaries in Silicon Valley. But what about the upcoming high school and college graduates with Beamers, who will remain under- or unemployed? Will they accept a lower standard of living? Sure, they may have to, but will they display discontent and anger that their parents habits and customs cannot be duplicated or augmented? "I have a right to this life style - Period!"

Am I fearful of an absence of appreciation? I guess so. Walking to work, taking the bus, bicycling to the mall! "Are you kidding? No way! I need to be part of the In-Crowd!"

Parents are willing to go broke to give their off-spring a better life. Better?

What's wrong with less? All this materialism keeps all of us away from a sense of appreciation of the natural. The frogs and the birds.

"Sorry, We have no time for this stuff. Where are the keys to my Beamer!"