Nice new whateveryoucallit about freiheit.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

I'm with you here.  The big thing that will be happening over 2008 (in the US at least) is that the 80's-90's corporate worship of the financial class will deteriorate.  Recall that before this trend began social programs, safety nets, etc, enjoyed massive popular support.   Americans are easily tricked into helping the rich when they think they too can become rich.  The instant they begin accepting this as impossible they begin to go after "theirs."

We're on the cusp of great changes by default.  The present financial and credit system of the US is an absolutely disgusting mess, from top to bottom.  

An anecdotal example of life in the US:  You have a good job, make 3 times rent but can't get an apartment in a city because your credit report has a few marks here and there.  Some of them are not even yours.  The agencies in charge care very little about this.  Where do you live?

The myth that if you WORK HARD and earn a good salary you will have a good standard of living in the US is being greatly challenged at this time.  A society that requires you to have investment and credit strategies to even get a HOME is headed for failure.  American culture requires that a good working salary alone should be enough to support a quality of life within those means.  If it is not, why work?