This is capitalism in action, an economic system that inherently makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, the more so the more unrestrained the capitalism. Is the answer to keep going like dogs chasing their tails and constantly trying to treat the symptoms of this disease, a la homeless shelters, soup kitchens, bread lines, unemployment insurance etc.? Or is it to carve the disease out altogether and reconfigure the social order so as to ensure basic services for every citizen in a society where we have no rich, no poor, no homeless, no real unemployment, everyone the same social class and the economy designed not around the profit margins of the wealthy few at the expense of the working masses but instead around what most betters the lives of the workers? The means of production owned by the people at large to include any business that the owner cannot run entirely by himself (like a hot dog stand) because when he employs even one worker (beside himself) he will invariably pay his worker(s) the bare minimum he can get away with without the worker(s) walking out, forcing the workers to sell themselves piecemeal every day as wage slaves instead of making more money individually with popular ownership of the means of production and exchange. Because everyone would own the factories, mines, steelmills (such as are left!) etc. NOBODY would own them, with everything that was formerly the owner's/majority- and minority shareholders' profit margin would be put back into payroll instead of going in the pockets of one or a handful of already-rich businessmen. Naturally those workers who serve in leadership positions such as foremen, floor managers, plant managers etc. would make somewhat more than the average worker on the factory floor for example, but it would not be so MUCH more as to make them a class unto themselves. The same goes for those in governmental positions, they cannot be allowed to become a class unto themselves either. There need be no limousines to deliver representatives to the legislature. There would also have to be complete transparancy of government, with representatives of the people having to answer to the people on a regular basis, with the ability to call for a vote of no confidence at any time so that every politician would have to wake up every morning and feel like if they're a worthless turd this week they could be out on their ear the next. Accountability, that is crucial. Without that the whole thing isn't worth attempting. But the question is, when will the people have both the consciousness of their plight and courage enough and brains enough to change the social order to how it needs to be?

Figures don't lie but liars figure. A 32-year high, as of 2005 census figures. How much has the total population grown by since 1973? Why pick 1973 as the starting point anyway? That was a recession year as I remember, with high unemployment. Why not pick a year during the Reagan boom?

LEV, if only we could call for a snap election here in the USA, I would very definitely vote for you as our next President. We might never be able to reach the perfect humane world you describe, but it would be such a relief to have someone as commander-in-chief who can at least envision and aspire towards it.