In your opinion is the economy doing well?

[sg0508]

Americans themselves are more responsible for being hurt economically in the global economy than the gov't.

1) Our education system still works, but we got lazy.  When workers abroad come to the US, get a solid education, take it seriously and take our jobs back to India and China, that's how it happened.

2) We're too expensive and the quality of our labor isn't what it used to be. It's just easier to pay people less in India (with no healthcare costs) who will work longer hours anyhow

3) Americans are just lazy and rather than go after it and work for it, we want hand downs.

4) Look at how fat Americans are.  That says something.  We are very, very lazy as a society and then we complain when it all goes bad.

[sg0508]

"Real" unemployment of 18-20% is the new norm. Of course no politician would ever have the balls to say that. Americans got caught with their pants down in the global economy. In addition, technology has made us more efficient and eliminated jobs.

You will probably never see big time job growth again.  This is the new norm, similar to $4 gas.