Joe, I understand everything you are saying, but, for the most part, although I realize we are not always in control of everything in our lives like getting laid off, etc., I believe the state of our finances are, to a great degree, the direct result of the financial and life choices we, as individuals, make.

For example, and as the housing crash made crystal clear, many people in America believed they were entitled to have whatever home they wanted–even when they knew they couldn’t afford it–and we all know how well that worked out.

The line between rights and privileges is becoming a blur in our present society of entitlement–many expecting they should get everything they want just because they want it.

Only time will tell if that’s a good thing, or if the system will simply collapse under that level of economic/financial pressure. If it does, like it or not–the reality is–nobody will win, and those who are the most dependent on the system will have the most to lose.