For those who still have grandparents who lived through the great depression (or remember their stories), this is a good time to listen to them. Unfortunately, as you say, we live in a different time now and most people live in the city, not on a farm. Still, their values are something we need to rekindle. Values like frugality, modesty, humility, perseverance.

During WWII the American people sacrificed because they had to and they got the job done. Maybe they didn't sacrifice as much as the British, but you still had the "can do" attitude back then. People pulled together, rationed, and did what they could. That's a history to be proud of. I don't see Americans (or Canadians) willing to make even modest sacrifices today, unfortunately. We could probably solve global warming with *half* the sacrifice our grandparents endured, but we're all too spoiled and entitled to be willing to even give it a go.

The US has none of that! Families have disintegrated with almost no elderly parents or grandparents living with sons and/or daughters as in third-world countries. Children in many US families are out the door by the time of their high school graduation, at least to the extent present conditions have not forced them to stay with their parents longer.

When the governments, federal, state, and city, the FORMER lines of last resort in the US break down, people will not know how to respond or where to turn. They will face conditions outside their experience. Then you will see chaos.

Yeah, I have been disappointed in him too…. I wanted him to out all the 911 lies and deceptions……
It didn't happen, and I still believe if it [911] were really investigated, the bush/chainey repubs would need to flee to their friendly No. 1 Welfare Queen and the primary or secondary recieptant of America's military largess. But it was not how Rahm see's their role in "G-ds Plan" or whatever the fruck they are usin as their chart… Sometimes I start wonderin what we would be talkin about at this time if John McCain had managed to slip in as president……. but I remember that no matter how bad Pres. O seems, Pres. Mcain would have been worse in policy and in appearences, we would have had imperial patriotism elevated to the new national religion… With baseball diamond sized flags and disabled former shock troops lecturing us about America's divine mission to vanquish all the ungodly wogs……. ………. A fate I find somewhat less preferable to death and taxes….

The US has none of that! Families have disintegrated with amost no elderly parents or grandparents living with sons and/or daughters as in third-world countries. Children in many US families are out the door by the time of their high school graduation, at least to the extent present conditions have not forced them to stay with their parents longer.

When the governments, federal, state, and city, the FORMER lines of last resort in the US break down, people will not know how to respond or where to turn. They will face conditions outside their experience. Then you will see chaos.

I hope the US ends the wars and uses the money for its own people. We have universal health care here, and I think Americans would be better off with it too. But even if none of this happens and things get bad, we have to put it in context. Poor people in the US often still have cars and houses or apartments. Even the homeless have access to clean, free drinking water. A lot of people in Africa don't even get that. I guess my point was just that it doesn't do anyone any good to exaggerate. And it's an insult to third world people who would often give *anything* to live in even an improverished American society.