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To: Bobby Yellin who wrote (3441)	11/23/1997 12:56:00 PM
From: Abner Hosmer	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 116814

Bobby - I can't believe it. Once again, here is the perception that the arrogant Americans are strutting around New York, living like Kings, spending their asses off, probably driving around in limousines, draped with jewelry and expensive furs, not a care in the world, or a thought for tomorrow. One is reminded of Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame, "Life is a banquet, and most poor bastards are starving to death!", then we all emit a long, loud laugh, guzzle our flutes of champagne, and smash them to pieces on the floor. Or James Cagney in Public Enemy, on top of a burning building, surrounded by flames, "I'm on top of the world, ma!!" I spent a week in Poughkeepsie last month, and I can tell folks what most New Yorkers are doing; they're working their asses off. They don't have time for all of those lovely things. I work in the Information Technology industry, and the company that I work for has been through 3 layoffs in the 90's. At one time, we were living on borrowed money, a half-step away from extinction. By an extraordinary effort of those of us left, and thanks to eight or 9 brilliant engineers, we survived. Ever since, we have been working our tails off to stay ahead of the market with the next generation of products, and it goes on and on... The folks I work with are worried about their retirement, in fact, obsessed with it. They are fully expecting Social Security to be bankrupt, or close to it. They are worried about the excessive debt that the nation carries. They are worried about the quality of the public schools their children attend. They are worried about immigration and the deficit. They are worried about the burden of defense. They are worried about maintaining their health insurance, which we are lucky to have. They are worried about keeping their jobs in a competitive industry. They are worried that it takes 2 incomes to support a decent lifestyle. They are worried about whether we can anticipate the demands of the market. They are worried about whether the next generation of products will sell. And they are working their asses off. There are many stock markets that have seen similar growth! Where arises the perception that because the stock market is booming we are living in decadent luxury, and laughing at the rest of the world? We may have better growth and employment than Europe does, but we do not have the perks, insurance, vacation, etc, that they do. Social welfare spending does not go to the middle class in the U.S., as it does in Europe and elsewhere. We are too busy trying to survive and compete to lord it over the rest of humanity. That is why the American worker is still the most productive in the world! Tom

To: Bobby Yellin who wrote (3441)	11/23/1997 3:55:00 PM
From: CIMA	Respond to of 116814

Bobby, I'm not a cynic, but hasn't it always been this way? Up until the 60's we believed in our leaders and didn't concern ourselves with really knowing how things worked, asking questions, etc: I admit that I immediately have my guard up when I see someone in an expensive car or suit. I want to know what their values are. Assuming they have some, I want to know if they've sold out those values along the way to getting those things. If I conclude that was probable, I will never trust them or give them much respect. It's a dilemma we all face along the same road.