But remember, Tom, how far we've come. There aren't thousands of young people dying of tuberculosis, like there were less than 100 years ago. I would bet that thanks to the internet more people have seen more ballets and operas than ever before. Until very recently, there was a chicken in every pot. And at least there are people who know life can be good. And don't forget air conditioning. The old Romans would have done anything for that.

I'm with you. Most people could benefit from a coherent college curriculum. Few colleges today seem to offer that. And the cost of college will bankrupt our next couple of generations. Many high schools don't even manage to teach the basics. Our education system today is a travesty and a tragedy. And yet as Mike wrote, you've got to have that degree to have any hope of getting one of those rare, decent jobs.

I am so tired of this Repbulican blame the victim meme. Don' t you get it? Even the Mexicans aren't coming here anymore because there are only so many burger flipping jobs and they are all taken. All the ****Politicians of both stripes in Washington DC have killed the goose that laid the golden egg. The jobs availiable now you can do until you can't afford to fix your old car anymore, and then until it's bus fare or food. And then until it's walk until your shoes wear out. Get Real. You're all way too cozy with the fat wallets and fat heads in the richest city on earth, DC. And it's not the shining city on a hill Reagan was talking about.