Society all over the world revolves around wealth. For some it may be wealth in tradition, for others it may be wealth in family and honor, but for most (especially those in America) wealth in luxury, being the best, having the best, excellence. How big is your house? How modern is your car? How hip are your clothes? Those are the things that matter to a large portion of the American population; the portrayal of those statements may seem harmless to some, or others may feel it is brash. But it is the truth, for better or worse. There has been a problem with this dynamic for many years, and it will take a lot to break through the wall we've built around ourselves, with bricks made of insecurity, arrogance, and aloofness. We've become unaware of what we've become; and become the opposite of what we as Americans supposedly cherish.
All over the United States people are seeing the dramatic changes of the nation's economy, and stagflation*. And things are only getting worse, more and more you changes here, in the neighborhood; restaurants prices are higher due to the increase in groceries, and recently financial problems have really hit home for me. I'm going out on a limb, but I think the issue needs to be addressed. Recently my parents have pulled me aside and told me bluntly, we need to cut back, things are getting harder and we need to spend money sparingly on non-necessities. It was difficult to listen to them as they told me that many of the luxuries I had taken for granted would be cut appreciably. After many months of rumors, speculation, and even factual economic statistics of an oncoming depression or even bankruptcy of the nation it seems the world Americans are accustomed to will soon be turned on it's head.
At first I thought financial distress would not be something I or my family would have to suffer with. When you're always used to being comfortable, it's hard to come to reevaluate your outlook when your situation changes dramatically. I'm seeing now how problems that have always been 'someone else's,' 'with the people down the street,' 'in that other country' are now knocking on my own door, in my own country; and are now invading my spaces and hitting home.
