instead of smugly telling the people they won't hire they are lazy, stupid, or communists, maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation. When people who are able to work, are willing to work, and have something to contribute, can't, its not their fault. Not every body can borrow from their parents and go start a business.

The people who are in charge of the economy are either screwing it up, or are running it for their benefit and no one elses. And who "runs" the economy in a capitalist system? Who profits from it? Are they doing all right? Aren't they doing better every day? Aren't corporate profits going up, isn't the stock market booming, isn't worker productivity going through the roof? Aren't unions being gutted and real salaries dropping for all workers? What more do you people want? Don't blame us for the state of the economy. I think the real problem is on the supply side.

As for my sociological and anthropological observations, which is what my post is really about, and about which you seem to be taking so much umbrage, I stand by them. I know the economy is in trouble, and how it got that way. The why is the historical circumstances I mention, I'm not the one blaming someone else for why WE have screwed up collectively. as a nation. Don't hijack the thread and bury me in true, but irrelevant statistics. I'm not discussing what is going on, I'm talking about how the victims of the deterioration (at least the ones in your party) are deluding themselves into finding someone to blame. I think I'm a pretty fair judge of character, as well as a student of history. I think it would be pretty obvious to you too if you weren't already ideologically committed to a convenient set of ready-made villains.

After all, Tom. You've never been one to be shy about telling people why they think what they do, and why they are too foolish or cowardly to believe exactly as you do.

You're just going to have to come to terms with the possibility that there are some people in the world who are informed, thoughtful, successful and well adjusted to their environment who just happen to believe you are full of shit. 8)