Hi Dan:

Don't feel sheepish about being disgusted with pyramid schemes. I also detest the way congress has allowed the big credit card companies to rip and tear, rape and plunder the ordinary citizen with ever changing rules, higher interest rates (to the point of extortion) and shortened payment cycles. We need to get back to a maximum of 10% APR on any loan or credit arrangement. Credit will eventually collapse our system if not brought under control.

I was a child of the great depression. It was tough but I never went hungry. We did not have social security and yet we survived.
Today, our congress has frozen cost of living increases to Social Security Recipients (like me) and have increased our medicare payment significantly... thus we are now heading into the red side of the ledger. At the same time, both the House and Senate have voted themselves pay raises these last two troubling years. They have fantastic retirement and medical care... all at our expense.

I believe it is the very big government programs that cause a significant portion of our problems. They certainly cause employers to resist hiring new people. When government involves itself in the economy by "printing more money" you and I eventually end up paying for it one way or another. The massive fraud in most of these programs is significant.

Finally, your last sentence hurled an accusation without naming the "guilty party." Do I perceive the name "George Bush" or is that my imagination. Remember, he had a mixed bag with congress and was virtually, a lame duck during his last term. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac probably caused most of the last downturn and meltdown... and yet congress allows these charlatans to continue to dine at the trough of the government coffers. I contend that it is criminal to loan money to a person with zero chance of repayment. It is a case of poisoning the well... for the rest of us.

I'll be happy to listen to your ideas on how to get us out of this mess. I don't think we've seen the worst of it... and we think the music biz is tough... LOL!

Regards and respect,

Dave