Deepening Crisis or Increasing Opportunity

Recent news regarding the economy continues to be somber. With states straining to provided continuing unemployment benefits while businesses stretch to maintain some semblance of growth, the American worker is in a quandry these days. This quandry may or may not involve indebtedness. It most surely, however, will involve planning at all different levels of our existence. Surprisingly, most workers and their families have committed themselves to a mindset that involves the following.
First, the American worker who has a job at this time, seems to be coming around to the mindset of being grateful to have a job. Over and over, when asked, people are being quoted as being very grateful to have something to hang onto.
Secondly, most workers are truly examining their lifestyles to see what can be adapted to, done without or just plain ignored in light of the recent and continuing economic downturns. This attitude harkens back to previous generations touched by depression, war and trying times. It is out of choices made during these times that the great American hard work ethic seems to have evolved. Wouldn’t it be a major jolt to the world, if the the originality and creativity for which Americans have long been known, suddenly emerged as a by-product of these dire times?
Third, choices that were once automatic for families and individuals as to the use of leisure time and money have taken a decidedly serious turn for the more conservative. Not conservative as often discussed at poitical rallies, but conservative as in not spending it all in one place.