Musings of a Dumb Ass

In listening to all my circle grapple with what's wrong with our economy and deal with how to fix it I find myself in awe that no one ever really addresses the real problem. None of the everyday folks that I rub shoulders with is ever able to bring into their conversations the necessity of individual responsibility. To look to the Government for a handout has become the American norm and way too many are getting it and most of the rest want it.
When you're sitting next to a forty something on disability and a fifty something who is already recieving a retirement benefit, I'm always amazed that they have no understanding that in the end whomever has a job and goes to work is actually supporting them. The idea that a small investment by yourself and your employer for twenty years and sometimes less will somehow provide you with the life of Riley for possibly 40 more years is absolutely sheer bullshit and deserves no seat at the table of reality.
There's no use in pointing out those who have enjoyed this kind of luxury in the past for more years than they were employed as proof that it works, because those are some of the big reasons we find ourselves at the door of financial armagedden now and those who have a shred of intelligence are unable to direct their thought process at the causes of our dilemna. No one really knows what the percentage costs of our dollars spent go towards supporting the sorry asses who choose not to work, both retired and on disability, but we know that a lot of the dollars of each of Detroit's automobiles go towards the medical/benefits of their retired while none of those imports share in this burden. Everything you spend money for is impacted by this, unless of course it is durable goods you're buying in which case it comes from another country, which by the way doesn't give a damn whether you're 'retired' or not nor if you have medical care.
I think enough time has passed that we can figure out that a 'service economy' predicated on the idea that we'll pay each other to take care of us is a lame idea. I think also that since we've given up all the jobs in factories that produce durable goods that are tangible and can be touched we can give over to the idea that the "Great Experiment" is a failure destined to go by the wayside with little chance for recovery. It has been a great ride though.........