10 Ways the European Debt Crisis Affects Your Investments

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Perhaps the perpetuation of the idea of the American Dream was just a way to keep us all working our behinds off chasing it. I would like to comment on the government worker post. Which kind of government worker? I made almost twice as much money in the public sector in Kansas as I made when I began working as a civil service worker in Illinois--doing the same sort of work. The first time I worked as a civil service worker here in IL, I actually made 10 cents less per hour than the student they hired. I'd LOVE to know where these high paying jobs are located that all of us government workers have. Please let me know so I can find that American Dream that has been so elusive.

Summer of IL 1:19PM July 06, 2010

american dream is just a dream, if not handle properly it will turn to a nightmare

joker of AL 6:33AM July 06, 2010

The American dream has turned into the American nightmare...this whole spend, spend , have it all now culture was not sustainable. It had to fail...and it is a good thing because now we can turn this whole mess around and go back to our old forgotten core values. We have learned the hard way that "stuff" does not make you happy.Then we need to clean up congress and start to get Government back to the people and away from the "lobbiest's..who have basically bought our congresmen to carry out their own bidding. Government is "broken"..from the FDA, SEC to the USDA and the MMS..they are all either asleep at the wheel or in bed with those they are supposed to regulate..and "we the people" are getting the short end of the stick. The future is not pretty..there will be huge changes needed to keep things like Social Security and Medi-care going...higher taxes, less welfare and "means tested" social security and can you guess who is going to pay...yep "we the people"..oh and by the way...it will be many years before the economy and employment recover, so do not be fooled by these slick talking bankers who proffess all is well and you will all be able to go back to the way it was before.

Martin fano of FL 2:42AM July 06, 2010

The American Dream is a joke, our very own government wants us to fail so that government can take over. I always believed in the American dream, but when our whole industrial market has failed us. Imports, even our so called American products are being outsourced to our Communist countries. Making them stronger to take over the world, lets not fool ourselves our very own government wants us to lose.

G.Lopez of IL 10:37PM July 05, 2010

It was the Clinton administration the wiped away the deficit. That "Hopey Changey" stuff is working. The stock market has rebounded, housing prices have stabilized, unemployment has leveled. What makes you think we should witness an instant rebound? Things take time. It took 8 years for Dubya to ruin everything. If we want to cut spending, why don't we get out of the Middle East? Oh wait, we need their oil. What about Asia? Oh wait, we need their manufactured goods. We sort of need something from everyone. Sounds like a bad position to be in, huh?
Start thinking about where to live (that requires less oil - sorry suburbs and Hummers), what to buy (North American made goods would be a start - support your neighbors) and about everything you do. Every choice you make has a consequence. We're collectively paying for those now.
Wake up America.

Randy Brown of WA 9:35PM July 05, 2010

When we fall, the Chinese will teach us the hard facts of life . For those who survive, it may be a good thing, but kiss the American Dream / culture a final good bye !

The Yock of PA 9:12PM July 05, 2010

Personally, I beleive the country is in a horrible transitio of "de-industrialization." Too large a number of textile, tech. (including support), and manufacturing jobs have gone to China, India, and other parts of Asia. The American peopple need to band together and say "enough!" We will not buy your products unless doing so employs American workers. These godd paying blue collar jobs were once the foundation which our economy was based on. Try to buy something made in the USA today. Good Luck! The general population buys cheap Chinese made products to save a few pennies in these hardtimes but we're shotting ourselves in the foot! Think people. What happens if we go to war and the China/Asia shipping routes are cut off. We will be in serious trouble. We won't have the factories or skilled labor force to sustain a serious threat (God forbid one should arise). We need toban together and either tell the Gov. to tax the max out of the companies that make their money here while producing the goods "over there". And if they do not, STOP BUYING PRODUCTS NOT MADE IN THE USA! And let the companies know that we will not buy until they come back to the red, white, and blue! Asain companies operating here with their own workforce (who send money back to their countery)should beware as well. Enough is Enough! God bless the USA!

Dr. Abel Cortez II of TX 6:36PM July 05, 2010

I think it was during the Clinton administration, that the Grace commission was formed to make recommendations on the deficit. Political party doesn't matter
as this is not a hack comment. Peter Grace, (of department store fame), said
this: "What you need to do, is go into every Government office and cut one
half of the work force. Then you come back in 6 months and you cut the work
force by one half. Get rid of all Government agency cars." Exclude police and
fire. None of the recommendations were adopted and the can was kicked down the road. Now years later here we are. The housing bubble just brought this on sooner, and only a blind person, or a political hack would not be able to see that the problem all along, has been Government spending. Mostly bloated wages and benefit programs. The paper this morning just fortified my argument, reporting that the average Government employee made 67.00 more
per week than the average private sector worker. As a former business owner,
please explain how that is supposed to work ???? Both political parties are responsible. How's that Hope and Change working out for You????

Donald E Philippi of NV 3:13PM July 05, 2010

You said it brother. Hold us under water until we say uncle. Remember. don't believe anything you read and only half of what you see.

T of TN 1:16PM July 05, 2010

Do you think the short trader ( BEARS) want a double dip? DA! The more they go on record the more the we become afraid to spend and the more likely we are of having a double dip and I am not talking about ice cream. Who makes money by what means? Stop being manipulated. The consumer can change the chances of another financial melt down but we must stop being talked into doing what these short traders want. They are making money while the rest of us are losing our jobs. We have the power, let us not give it away to those have nothing else on their mind than making money for themselves.!!!

v.cass of MI 12:26PM July 05, 2010