2. The creepy future of the USA (associated with GOP Big Business hegemony, but perfectly okay in many a lefty's and Dem's world as well) is this: Whatever jobs cannot be sent outside the USA can be filled with cheap immigrant labor. If it's hard getting people to relocate to Alabama or Indiana, what to do? Don't raise pay and benefits, but: Declare a “labor shortage” and import more H1-Bs.

3. Unions — dinosaurs. The only place the unions are still healthy is in government, in need of reform.

As well, for a long time now there are many people that just don't believe there is a future for them. Only a life of conformity and drudgery with little return for it. The very opposite of freedom.

IMO to much waste at the top of business has caused this decline. Corporate waste and extravagance that you pay high prices for many times a day. Waste at the expense of the consumer that bleeds you out with every purchase.

We should go back to the days where “Ethical Profit Margin” was taught in business school. Not this uncontrolled capitalism that has just gone wild.

During the illegal immigration debate over the past 10 years, it was said that Mexican nationals are here to do the work that Americans are unwilling to do themselves.

Perhaps it's time to come down off of the high-horse and start doing the jobs that, previously, were “below us” to do. Shovel maneure, dig ditches, pick lettuce – whatever it takes to put your own food on your own table.

Personally, I'd be willing to do any of the above to ensure the security of my wife and three children.
It's ashame that other Americans are not.

That's the beauty of a depression. During the 20's and 30's, the true American work ethic was born, with no room for waste and luxury. But alas. That work ethic is not found in most Americans any more. Thank you baby-boomers, for the legacy you have left.