China is still reeling from a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in its Sichuan province. As reported:

"Wenchuan's Communist Party secretary appealed for air drops of tents, food and medicine. 'We also need medical workers to save the injured people here,' Xinhua (Chinese news agency) quoted Wang Bin as telling other officials who reached him by satellite phone."

China is one of the largest states in the world, has about four times the U.S. population, and apparently "is on track to beat the United States in GDP by 2050." Never mind that the Chinese rely on the United States' middle class to buy their cheap labor-driven products so they don't have to pay their workers surplus capital to buy their own products. This is one reason China can keep its currency deflated and benefit so much from foreign trade. But that is beside the point.

Why is it that when a disaster hits the United States, other countries don't rush to our aid? Better put, why is there no need to?

Sure the Russkies tried to win some PR points by sending six helicopters to aid Katrina victims in 2005, but how much did that really help? The United States Navy and Coast Guard did as good a job as any organizations in the world could have when faced with the reticence to act of an incompetent local government, and indeed, the United States Navy is probably the pre-eminent disaster relief body in the world. Why does anyone suppose that is?

It is because the political economy of the United States, historically founded on individual liberty and individual market choices, is the most efficient in the world.

And, as few media outlets will admit, the American people are the most generous in the world. Anytime a disaster strikes abroad Americans are not only willing but able to send effective relief.

So let me ask the assuredly socialist Dr. Kahneman this: Are Americans really struggling, or is this phony poll simply a facade of the left's fictitious "class struggle"?

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. - Marcus Aurelius

Daniel Kahneman : idiot.

Enough said.

   Reuters headline should read "Life is a kick in the head" or "Life is not fair". Oh wait, that is common wisdom. And yet, 49% manage to thrive, and a full 32.2 % hang up the phone when they learn they have to answer 70 questions from some nutball on the phone. Ok, I HANG up the phone and I am doing ok, does that skew the poll?

Had they conducted their fishing expedition here in Michigan, they would have obtained more favorable results, for them. Especially if they centered on Detroit.

Canadian born Granholm is working diligently towards changing Michigan into a little Canada. Our state economy started tanking during her first four years. And during her campaigning for re-election, she promised "Give me another four years and what I do with this economy is going to blow you away". The dive into the tank has become steeper. Everyone heard of the state budget crisis last year? She tried to blame the state deficit on Pres. Bush, of course. What was not mentioned is that in the budget she proposed, the deficit was created from increased spending in almost every area, with the largest increases in social programs. In addition to creating new taxes on services from baby shoe bronzing to tarot card reading (which has been rescinded in exchange for raising state business tax again). And people, and businesses, are leaving the state in droves.

Even Rush has pointed out that Michigan is in a full blown recession. So Reuters really missed the mark on this one. Their 47% would have been much higher had they conducted their survey here. Seems that Reuters is so out of touch, that they don't even know where to look to get the best results.

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana

After taxes are included in those numbers we are doing really well compared to the world, or are they included already?

I don't think we have seen anything yet.  I am really concerned for people in our country and the world.  Seriously.  The ethanol and bio diesel is causing rapid price increases all over the place.  Since I live on a small farm and raise animals I see it first hand.  2 years ago it cost me $8 for a bag of feed for my chickens, now it is almost $17.  The cost of ethanol is just beginning to show in the US and salaries are not keeping up with the increases.  I also want to know what happens when we start to run out of water because of the ethanol plants.  I see a self induced depression comming and I don't see any political candidate with balls enough to stop it.  So here I am, the only member in my family who grows their own food and who has a stable job that will not fail us.  Yup, I am a little worried.  Sorry to be so depressing. If anyone else has another view and can convince me otherwise, let me know, I would appreciate it. 

"We are having trouble competing because of the cost of health care and its effects"

So, we're struggling because we are competing (and winning the competition) to have access to the best medicine that money can buy and we're living longer, more productive lives because of the access to medical care that is the envy of most, if not all, other countries in the world?

In other words, we'd be better off if we died young, dumb, and happy instead of old, wise, and satisfied with the life we led? Yea, that makes sense, NOT!

My Dad would tell me this when I complained growing up:

"Life's tough, then you die!"

Wonder what he would say to all these struggling folks out there!

"We are having trouble competing because of the cost of health care and its effects," Gurley said.

So we just have the government take it over and Wala! no more cost. It magically disappers. Except for the huge tax increase to cover it. But, never mind it's free.

BTW... if you weren't looking, its the darn government that caused healthcare to be so expensive in the first place. Duh! The latest abuse is to force insurance and health providers to provide equal dollar coverage for mental health that they do for physical health. I can tell you exactly how to fix a broken arm and what it will cost. Try doing that for 'depression', or female neurotic episodes, bipolar syndrome, kleptomania, gambling addition, etc., etc., etc.