http://bripblap.disqus.com/money, success and the future of workenThu, 11 Sep 2008 17:13:48 -0000http://www.bripblap.com/batman-and-the-dismal-science/#comment-2292013<p>yes, i know.<br>Its true....</p>WealthBoyThu, 11 Sep 2008 17:13:48 -0000http://www.bripblap.com/batman-and-the-dismal-science/#comment-2276201<p>Curmudgeon, I don't think of myself as discouraged - more as a pessimist... and I try not to be a pessimist, either. I'm a skeptic about almost everything, and that flows through to the state of our union. I think smart and motivated people will always find a way through and I just hope I'm one of those people. That having been said, there are a number of trends that I view as unfavorable these days. Foremost among them is the stupidity and greed of our political leadership - without significant change there nobody can feel safe. Nobody could've predicted FDR, of course, but do we have the next FDR out there? Dunno.</p><p>All that having been said, part of my perception is due to being in the "belly of the beast" as an auditor in Fortune 50 NYC financial services companies, where the rotted heart is finally being exposed - it certainly leads one to extreme cynicism.</p>SteveWed, 10 Sep 2008 21:39:52 -0000http://www.bripblap.com/batman-and-the-dismal-science/#comment-2268944<p>Steve, are you really as discouraged as you sometimes sound? I could understand if you were retired or close to it, lost your job, or bought a house using a toxic mortgage in the last 2-3 years, but none of these things apply to you. Granted, there are many people who fall into one or more of these categories, but I certainly remember more uncertain economic times in my own lifetime, and the percentage of people who are facing difficult times today is relatively small compared to those in the past.</p><p>I recognize that you believe that negative economic events over the last 20 years or so are having a cumulative effect on our lives and well-being. I guess I'd like to invite you to examine those beliefs and see if in fact there is objective evidence for them. I personally like my chances better today than at any time in the history of the US.</p>CurmudgeonWed, 10 Sep 2008 15:01:42 -0000