A little perspective...

For all the "Occupy Wall Street" crowds and those of like mind:  I can sympathize with the protests against corporatism, corruption and cronyism.  But you lose me when you keep screaming about how unfair your plight is compared to the so-called "1%."  For you see, the vast majority of Americans ARE the "1%" -- at least from the world's perspective:

In America, the top 1% earn more than $380,000 per year. We are, however, among the richest nations on Earth. How much do you need to earn to be among the top 1% of the world?

$34,000.

That was the finding World Bank economist Branko Milanovic presented in his 2010 book The Haves and the Have-Nots. Going down the distribution ladder may be just as surprising. To be in the top half of the globe, you need to earn just $1,225 a year. For the top 20%, it's $5,000 per year. Enter the top 10% with $12,000 a year.

Instead of merely trying to work hard to improve the lot of ourselves and our family, America's ethos has become one big game of "keep up with the Kardashians," to paraphrase a cliche.  Far too many spend so much time envying what others have, that they lose all appreciation for what they already possess.  That road leads to nothing but perpetual jealously and dissatisfaction.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."