[ClearCase_guy]

A lot of people have stories of their grandparents, who went through the Great Depression, and then for the rest of their lives were always thrifty, always saved things that might be re-used later, never borrowed money. The Depression changed them, and the memory stayed with them.

I would hope that with the coming crash, people will realize the nature of government, and that the quickest way to lose a future election would be for a politician to say, "Here's what I will do for you ..."

What politicians ought to promise is, "I will preserve your rights, and make sure that no one messes with you, or your stuff." If people conclude that this is all government is good for, then perhaps the coming Crash will be worth it.

[henkster]

“A lot of people have stories of their grandparents, who went through the Great Depression, and then for the rest of their lives were always thrifty, always saved things that might be re-used later, never borrowed money. The Depression changed them, and the memory stayed with them.”

I don’t think the Depression changed them all that much. Thriftiness, common sense and self-reliance were character traits most people already had back then. The Depression just made them more attuned to them. And a high school diploma actually meant that a person had a solid, well-rounded education.

My concern is that those character traits, if not already extinct, are certainly in short supply in the American populace. Too many Americans today have absolutely no sense of thrift, no common sense, and are woefully ignorant of even the most basic macro-economic principles. So when the crash comes, how many “Katrina victims” will we see? You know, the ones waiting for “the guv’ment” to come save them?

[Cronos]

always saved things that might be re-used later, never borrowed money.

And we forgot about all of that in the 80s-2000s....