[karnage]

Your points are well taken, but in prior economic meltdowns and times of division, the unique American character was still present in our DNA. Now, it has been largely stamped out by welfare and public education. Getting out of this hole will be a lot harder than in the past. Especially since so many people think the sickness is actually the cure.

[mick]

You're right,of course. But I go back to what made the American character what it has been in the first place. Our ancestors came over for a variety of reasons and were not "Americans" when they stepped off the boat.It was the battles they fought here...against nature, against tyranny, against each other in the free market that formed the American Character

Maybe I'm missing something and your assessment of the dilution of our national character is correct....but I think the very struggles we are going to face because of the economic meltdown, the failure of socialistic remedies to solve it, and the utter disrespect this man and his gang have for our country will, in the end, trigger a restoration of individual initiative and push back that will restore constitutional government and free enterprise.

That is not to say that you are wrong in thinking the spine of the people has been weakened. Of course it has. almost 100 yrs of progressivism has taken it's toll. But I think Newtons Law will prevail in the end..........the tougher the push the harder the push back.