[Publius]

We have gone from a nation that made money by "making things" to a nation that makes money by shuffling paper assets from one pile to another.

That can't be good.

[Radix]

"We have gone from a nation that made money by "making things" to a nation that makes money by shuffling paper assets from one pile to another."

If one simply considers just how many folks are involved in the purchase of a home between two parties, it ought to be evident that there are a whole lot of folks making a bunch of dough for contributing essentially nothing to the process.

Our Economy is a freaking mess, and there are a boatload of folks who have been getting wealthy for no valid reason.

"Money for nothing and your chicks for free."

[Tired of Taxes]

We have gone from a nation that made money by "making things" to a nation that makes money by shuffling paper assets from one pile to another.

That's what I was thinking, too, in reading this chapter. So far, the heroes in this story each created something and/or worked to keep it all going - the railroad, steel, etc. - and provided people with services, products, and employment in the process.