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Not quiet right DEEEDEEE...The US was ON TOP OF THE WORLD at the end of WW2. The US enjoyed a Golden Age of Prosperity, where the Middle Class bloomed. We got so rich that we didin't know what to do with it all so we started spending it on Social Welfare Programs called the Great Society and the Vietnam War the duality of it was called "Guns and Butter" we were so rich we could do it all.

Slowly but surely other nations reconstituted themsleves after WW2 and started to creep up on the US giving America competition. We largely ignored them and the Japs in paticular trounced America with their cars and electronics. Since the 70s America has been slowly selling the Farm off a bit of time to maintain the illusion of being the rich relatives of the world.

Meanwhile US based corps have moved production facilities overseas becoming multinational corps. whose only loyalty is to the Sharholder and providing a profit every quarter so that their stock price increases. They don't really care if its an Indian or American who gets the paycheck and orwhat their standard of living is, so long as there is a profit made.

Yes the illusion of a Middle Class Life Style is under pressure and it now takes three to maintain it...Husband, Wife and Credit Card. The Middle Class is shrinking and the illusion of oportunity for all to achieve the good life is an oxymoron. It will be increasingily the best and brightest that make their way to the top while the rest languish behind left to watch TV and root for who the next Superbowl Champ will be.