It almost seems as if, like an alcoholic or drug addict, the populace hits bottom and either wakes up or is swept into the debacle made by their inattentiveness or lack of hope. I am just hoping that the US wakes up before that happens, but am not so sure. 

It's not hopeless, Andrea. I do think the path we travel now will be quite difficult and we will see, as we've already seen, some very ugly things come to pass but I think...as sad as this may sound...it may be the course we must complete to become something better. I certainly think there are better ways we could get to where we need to go but you can be thankful you live where you are personally likely to suffer the least.

The people of the third world are worth less in this society than the wrapper on a fast food burger and will be (are) tossed away with about as much thought. As desperate as we may feel here at times the definition of hope in those parts of the world really amounts to little more than the end being as quick and as painless as possible.