To be fair, we have all been hit hard by the recession and the Covessine, and we will be hit harder by the latter as it develops, but those just establishing themselves during the former have been hit harder. On the other hand, most measures of life show vast improvements from the 1940s through the 1960s, and many of those such as life expectancy continued to the present in most countries (it fell in the U.S. during the recent drug epidemic), although wages for most fell from the highs in 1980. What is most important is that we as a society stick together as one nation indivisible and consider what national policies would allow us the best way of getting out of this mess so that more will enjoy the fruits of our economy.