The commentary suggests that the energy is abundant, while we have some of the lowest tax rates in the western world to match.

We have perverted the Horatio Alger ethic to the point that people believe that the ability to finance material possessions is an indication of wealth, when wealth is actually a function of true net worth (the value of non-depreciating assets, net of debt). They confuse their ability to borrow with affluence.

Aspiring to wealth is fine. Yearning to be acquisitive while scorning the less fortunate, not so much.

You can't enlighten someone that won't see the light. Anyway, life gets in the way and people just really have more things to handle then not. I worry that my husband's well paying job is cutting more and more benefits. I worry that our ridiculous ARM isn't being reined in to a comfortable position. I worry that we don't worry enough. But I have a life to lead as well. I can't sit and worry that the sky is falling when I have to take care of my family. I don't have enough time in the day.

And how do you change the mentality?... By making people more aware of the issues would be one way, but you seem to want to shoot that down by denouncing the whole thread as being too negative.

Wow how selfish. Maybe there are people other than you in the world. Maybe they have not read all this before and are interested in recent members opinions on it.

If you are sure you have read it all before and don't like it then why did you read it all again?

It is negative. My goodness, there isn't a solution in the whole context. Elvira threw out her post without any comment. Everyone knows how extremely homesick she is and her thread starter was just another negative check against this country. I think everyone is pretty aware of the problems. Well if they aren't then they should be. But short of standing up and shouting at people to be aware of what is going on, what else would you suggest?

I hardly think I'm being selfish by posting an opinion. Are you being selfish for denying me a right to say what I want?

For one, it's not all I do .. which is the mistake that Mallory made. But thank you for your concern. I cant vote in the States and given the reaction of Americans to Brits trying to stick their nose in political affairs across the pond during the last election I doubt anyone will ever bother again.

In my own country however, I do.

where did i say you could not say what you wanted?

i said my opinion of what you posted was selfish.

Let's have a real argument, split the stats along racial groups...

So no one should post anything negative about the US? Obviously some people don't care about others worse off than them, because they're doing fine judging by other posters in this thread. Either that or they're too scared of what may be about to happen to the economy to be reminded (not you Lisa).

I don't think the general public has a lot of confidence in their politicians - on either side of the pond. While voting may help, I don't feel its the complete and only way to change things. Promises mean nothing after the election. Oops there I go being negative. Sigh.....

Well as long as that one is sorted out. Wheew!

A surprising comment from one that lives by Argumentum ad hominem.

Yes .. its posting information with an agenda. If you had looked at the views before replies you would ahve noticed that quite a few people opened the thread, looked or didnt at the detail of the articles .. no doubt said "oh dear, its not geting any better" to themselves and got on with their days.

It wasn't until someone came in with an obnoxious, selfish, stereotypical comment that anyone replied. Im not saying it wouldnt have been discussed later but people fired off at the replies not the OP.

Despite the fact you condemn Elvira for posting the information in the first place, disseminating information is the standard way of informing people about things.

Unsubstantiated argumentum ad hominem -- again!

You state that the OP isn't qualified to raise this subject because she doesn't like it here.

Well I'm a US citizen who lives and votes here. Am I qualified to raise the issue?

Precisely! So your argument is pure bunkum!