I'm not going to worry too much about wages in the whole nation are doing. I will put my energy in my own situation- The one I can do something about.

I have a very small mortgage on my house. I owe nothing on any cars. My ONE credit card is paid off in full every month. I have money in the bank.

In short, I'm living below my means. A very comfortable place to be.

As far as the current dismal savings/debt ratios go, I think people have now forgotten all about the great depression. Decades of prosperity will do that. Another major downturn in the nation's economy will turn an entire generation of young Americans into fiscal conservatives.

yeah, well I'm glad your doing fine, there Dantilla. But I try to hold my elected officials accountable, to discern between rosy rhetoric and the reality of the policies they' ve championed. If "a rising tide raises all boats", then an ebbing tide must do the opposite.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the explosion in Govt spending in the 80's and the growing Trade deficits have lowered most boats here. We might be getting paid more, but it's with cheaper dollars.

For some perspective:
Inflation from Jan 1983 - Jan 2007 averaged 4.29% per year. So someone making $20,000 in 1983 would have to be making more than $40,846.55 today in order to have real wage gain.