[Superman]

You make me laugh out loud, lendaddy.

In this thread, I tend to side with some folks I normally berate, demonize, out-think, out-type, etc. When we mechanize-farm Africa, we'll have enough food to feed five planets-full. We'll survive. Fint, we were talking about the world, includign the non-Americans. The world is ball-shaped.

On the other hand, and focusing more closely on America, or Amerika....I think Nostatic may be right (he was not talking about the planet's ability to sustain life). And I'm going to try really hard here to eschew politiks, but he's suggesting Brokaw's Greatest Generation was indeed the greatest, and we're coasting downhill now. I think he's right. Some of you are saying that there is opportunity out there and indeed there is. There was broader opportunity for the Greatest Generation. A very high percentage of families had a reasonable expectation for security. Virtually all families had homes, cars, etc. Women could stay home and be moms. Retirement was going to be a soft landing. Today, a smaller percent can reach the brass ring. Retirement is frightening as is health care. Sure, someone can become a bazillionaire today. BFD. When I was born, my parents could afford a house on Beacon Hill in Seattle. My job is WAY more highly-ranked in the job-comparison sweepstakes of today than my Dad's job back then, and I canmnot afford that house. A house within ten minuts' drivign of dntn Seattle is going to cost you a million dollars. So, the resources are getting concentrated in a smaller group, and the larger group is getting a bit miffed about it. In a democracy. So, I think it's an interesting dynamic. Now, if the proletariat can only figure out that it is in control, if it wants to be.