Why We Feel The Way We Do

I usually write about stocks, market segments, the economy - today the mood of the nation got to me and I have spent the day positing - to myself, I work alone - various reasons we are the way we are, feel the way we feel, all vital to an understanding of why the economy will remain sluggish, at best and the markets will face headwinds. At best.

And I think I hit on an answer but in the true spirit of blogging wanted feedback from anyone and everyone. So I ask everyone who reads this to respond - and in a day or two I will follow up with answers to the questions below. Please, no scatological comments about Pelosi or Beck, no digital Hyde Park corner tirades. Think, and respond.

Here goes.

We are the wealthiest nation in the history of the planet. We enjoy the greatest supremacy in military power in the history of the planet. We are, arguably, the most politically free people in the history of the planet. More than two thirds of the people in the country think we are going in the wrong direction and ninety one percent think the economy is getting worse. Why?

We are borrowing money, collectively, as individuals and in the form of our government, more than any people in the history of the planet. Why?
Twenty five percent of our children eat because of food stamps. Why?

More than twenty percent of our citizens are out of the work they want - unemployed, dropped out of the work force, partly employed. Why?

One sixth of the population lacks health insurance. Why?

Interest rates available from the central bank are effectively zero yet most small and medium sized businesses without overly substantial collateral cannot get a loan. Why?
Our elections are by far the costliest the world has ever seen yet more than 90% of incumbents routinely get elected. Why?

The government has just spent in excess of one trillion dollars to stimulate the economy and the central bank has printed more than one trillion dollars in new money yet, in the real world, the job market continues to shrink and there is, essentially, no economic growth. Why?

One think tank believes without stimulus GDP would have fallen more than seven points rather than grow more than five points. Yet there is doubt about the ability of the Congress to pass another stimulus package, Why?

The military can plant a bomb inside someone's pocket from ten thousand feet and can deliver Pepsi - cold - to the mountains of Afghanistan. But it cannot subdue less than ten thousand illiterate tribesmen. Why?

We put a man on the moon forty years ago but cannot afford to do it again. Why?
We have an overabundance of domestic energy supplies - coal and natural gas - yet import more energy than any other nation uses. Why?

We claim to have a progressive tax rate but the average American household pays a higher percentage of their income in taxes - income, sales, property, other - than the average American millionaire. Why?

China abuses, strangles and executes its people, manipulates its currency to maintain exports, destroying tens of millions of jobs around the world, periodically threatens the world when Tibet or Taiwan become a headline, steals intellectual property as if it were Halloween candy and supports rogue regimes going nuclear in North Korea and Iran yet we call them a friend. Russia has made a great transformation from authoritarian dictatorship to quasi-free state, given up an empire peacefully, and is now willing to sign a treaty to radically reduce its nuclear arsenal yet we remain wary of them and they are not part of our economic universe. Why?

Adam Lambert was the best performance artist and had the best natural voice of any contestant ever on American Idol. His premier album was not as well received as his performances on American Idol. Why?

There is one answer to all of these Whys. What is it?