Let me rephrase that then 😉 … for me “upward mobility” would be a raise that actually matches inflation. Haven’t had one of those in 15 years, and 7 years of that have been “boom times.”

Part(but only part)of that is a trade off for security, thus I am not looking at imminent unemployment as are some who took risk for a higher pay cheque.

But I also guess that’s why I’m not all shook up about the economic downturn, I haven’t really felt much of the economic upturn. The boom didn’t make it down to my level yet, so unless we are looking at another great depression it’s all pretty much status quo.

The big thing that strikes me is that this shows how worldwide, government ( for a number of reasons open to debate ) is not fulfilling it’s role. Capitalism is something of pulse rocket; a series of explosions punctuated by burnouts – your typical boom bust cycle ( or manic depressive!)

The role of government in a “free” market economy is to act as a regulator, not in the legal sense but in the mechanical sense. It has to act to retard the highs and fill in the lows, to smooth out the economic engine so the passengers don’t die from all the shaking.

Boom bust. feast famine, it’s just not a good way to do things.

As to 2012 .. so you don’t think my doomsday scenario’s are that bad eh? Well how about this… If the economy tanks it will take down whoever is in charge in the states. Obama may very well be a one term president. And you know who has already talked about running in 2012? Yep. That’s right, Sarah Palin. “President Palin.” I mean is that isn’t a doomsday scenario I don’t know what is! :p