You ARE doing the patriotic thing- by sticking to your values, and not running up debt that you can't afford to pay off. This country needs to reset it's spend, spend, spend motto.

Yes I am patriotic. I am trying to make wise financial decisions so that my family's financial situation is stable and strong thus making me a strong component of American society. Now, when our stimulus money starts hitting our paycheck I will be spending it. I intend to use that in jump starting my pantry and garden (both of which require capital outlays).

Yep, I'm being patriotic. I shop local merchants and farm stands. Much more important to keep them in business then the big box stores. I shop those as infrequently as I can. Get better service at the local places also. We know them and they are happy to see us. NancyLouise

That's the kind of patriotism that got your country (and mine ... plus, it appears, most of the rest of the world) into the mess that it's in at present.

And which has so far cost me, along with a few million others, thousands of dollars of reduced value of assets per person.

Plus ... printing money as you are, and going deeper into debt, very likely a good shot of inflation will appear next ... which will enable the governments, corporations and individuals to pay off their debts with reduced-value dollars.

As the main banker to the U.S., China likely will be unwilling to lend much more money unless some inducements are offered, namely, higher interest rates.

Can you imagine the screaming if the borrowers in the U.S. (and elsewhere) get hit with interest rates, say, double current levels?

ole joyful

Well I will probably be unpopular for saying the following, but here goes.

We have been enjoying a 50-year period of self-indulgence. Banks have approved loans of twice as much as the consumer can easily afford the payments on. The consumer hasn't been paying attention and thinks that the bank wouldn't approve the loan if it was more than they calculated the consumer could pay. Mistake #1.

With the advent of television, we are a captive audience for rampant advertising. I counted 15 commercials during the commercial break of a program I was watching. Then five minutes of programming and another commercial break. The advertisers know eventually some of us will succumb. Our 'clean slate' children sit in front of these advertisers every day. We indulge our children with every little gimmick they want, and they want everything they see because "everyone but you has one". Mistake #2

Because we've borrowed so much money that we can't afford the payments, both husband and wife have to work. This both fills a job and creates one, because someone has to care for the children. The job filled is one that probably wouldn't have existed if people weren't in a spending frenzy. Mistake #3

Too many people buy stuff they don't need and don't want once they get it home. That's why all the thrift shops have so many clothes on their racks, some of which still have the tags on them. That's why, any given weekend, there are dozens of yard sales with tables full of stuff marked at 1/10th of their previous value. Shopping has become recreational for too many, instead of just a way to procure needed items. Mistake #4

People don't routinely put money in savings any more. Then when a rough patch comes along they're borrowing money at a payday loan place. It's just so easy and they're so friendly! End up deeper in debt than ever. Mistake #5

Credit cards are a pox upon the world. Easy to get. Go on a spree and max it out, pay the minimum balance, get another card to use. Before you know it you have multiple cards maxed out. The interest that accrues is sometimes more than the minimum payment. Most people don't even know the interest percentage and are shocked when they find out. Miss a payment and you get charged a fee for doing so, then you're over your credit limit and you get charged a fee every month for that, too. If you never use the card again, it can rack up an astronomical balance all by itself. Mistake #6.

Financial institutions and corporations claim they need a bail out to stay in business and keep providing jobs. So they get what they ask for and then throw a big expensive party or pay huge bonuses to employees who need them to keep up their lavish lifestyle, and NO ONE punishes them for doing so. Madoff bilks people out of billions and he's not in prison being Ripper's girlfriend. Mistake #7.

Our children are over-booked and driven by car everywhere they need to go. They go to dance class, soccer, karate, baseball, swimming class, etc., etc. They're KIDS. They need time to just PLAY. Neighborhood kids used to get up their own ball team and play in a local park. Some kids preferred to ride their bikes and they went all over the neighborhood. They were having fun, not competing, trying to WIN. Now they're driven for miles, they have to have expensive uniforms and all the best equipment and expensive bags to carry it all in. Mistake #8.

Our teenagers are spoiled. Advertisers know they have more money to spend than any other consumer group. They can't just listen to the radio, which is free. They have to buy music to put on their MP3 players which blasts into their ears all day. They are either using their cell phones or computers when they could be hanging out with their friends or working a part-time job, or baby-sitting, or mowing lawns, or, God forbid, doing their homework, having a hobby or reading. Mistake #9.

People are taking out memberships in gyms to keep in shape. Then they get in their car to drive two blocks and take the elevator. They buy 'energy drinks' and 'fiber bars' to make up for the fact that they don't eat right. Mistake #10.

I could go on.

The cure is not to throw money at it. It is to become realistic again. Live within your means. See advertising for what it is, learn to resist it and teach your children to do so. Get those credit cards paid off and don't buy things on credit any more. Save for what you want, pay cash.

Yes, people are losing their jobs every day. My DD lost her job 2 months ago, got another one, and lost it yesterday. If you're working 'just to have something to do', then be patriotic and go volunteer somewhere. Let someone who needs a job for their very survival have your paying job. If you're a mom of a two-income family, sit down and figure out whether you actually get anywhere, financially, by working. You have to pay for child care, plus conveniences that you wouldn't need if you didn't work. Plus clothes, transportation, etc. Plus every penny you make has taxes taken out of it. If you're old enough to retire and can survive on your retirement, now's the time to do so and open up a job for someone that has little children to feed.

Need to shop as recreation because you haven't got anything better to do?? Oh, for heaven's sake! A Prada shoe is just a shoe. An Escalade is just transportation. Make the world a better place: volunteer, help your neighbor, learn to garden, learn to cook. Get a bicycle to save on gas. Become real again.

We don't have friendships, we're bored, and we're more obese and sicker than ever before. My mother always used to say, "If you're going to dance, you have to pay the piper". We've all been dancing for 50 years. Was it worth the price we're going to have to pay now?

Very good state of the union analysis joyfulguy and ilene_in_neok.

I want to add a big "Amen" to that. And one more thing, we have been so stupid and blind, we almost have it coming. I hope that's not being unpatriotic, but I feel that it's true.

ilene_in_neok, you're very popular with me. Well said

Back on "9/11" I really got irritated with all these people who all of a sudden started flying flags to prove how patriotic they (allegedly) were. I refused to. You don't prove patriotism by buying and flying a flag made overseas. I prove my patriotism every day and I don't need to buy a flag and put it up claiming I'm patriotic only to turn around a be hypocritical as were so many. I'll hold the door for a person, pick up something they drop and give it back to them. I take pride in my work and I'll take responsibility for my actions. I'll buy from local stores, combine my trips, keep some sort of nest egg as best I can and keep some food in the house so if the stores need to close, I won't be looking for a news camera to cry in front of. When the storms came through I didn't demand a FEMA trailer, I got out and cleaned up the branches, trees and "made do" with the power outage. I reduce, reuse and recycle and what's more, I'm not afraid of a light bulb. I proudly use fluorescent lights in much of my house, conserve natural resources and plant trees and grass. When I could, I was active in local government and stayed informed and shared this info with people. I volunteer, contribute to worthy causes both money AND TIME and most importantly come election time I've gotten off my a$$, campaigned for people I believed in and what's more I truly prove my patriotism.... I VOTE! Voting may be (and in deference to my buddy Joyful's and my running disagreement about having no "rights") a privilege, but to me it's a DUTY. My opinion is that if you don't vote you have no privilege to complain.

Well, I am patriotic, support the local people, recycle, campaign for better representation, combine trips, keep my pantry full in case of emergency, am not afraid of light bulbs, don't ask for government help, feed my own family, pay all of my bills, don't cheat on my taxes, don't owe a balance on my credit card, drive my car until it starts to fall apart no matter how much I would like a new one, share with those in need, and do my best to go to church on Sunday. I fly a flag at my house, and will always do so, because I think we live in the best country in the world.

Yes, we have many problems as stated so eloquently in one of the above posts by Ilene, which I totally agree with. I am still going to fly my flag, at this point in time, we have the freedom to do so. Even when the current administration continues to take our rights away from us by inflating a bulging government, I will still fly my flag!

Please don't waste time flaming me, I've lived through Jimmy Carter and the Clinton's, I've seen what big spending has done to this country. I only want to see the best for all of us, and printing money 24/7 to pass around and share, making people believe they are going to get some big stimulus check in the mail does not impress me.

I only started this reply because I am going to fly my flag, and nothing is going to stop me! I am proud of my country, my military family members, father's, grandfather's, and great grandfather's who served. I have respect for those who have fought and died for this country. That's just who I am.

Absolutly!! I still get goose bumps when I hear the National Anthem, (if it's not jazzed up too much, I like it as written, traditional).

I love this country, I respect the sacrifices made by those men and women who have given their lives so that I have this privilidge to sit here and express my views.

Yes, you bet I am patrotic and I agree with 99% of what has been talked about here.

if patriotic means looking out for myself 1st and foremost, then yes.

hapyfrustrated, I'm glad to see that you agree that the dumbya debacle and trying to buy votes with the $600 checks, throwing money away hand over fist, spending billions a month with Halliburton to try to grow something between his legs was a complete and utter failure, ruining the economy and making us a laughing stock worldwide. Now we have to pay for the failure of putting friends in offices. Mission accomplished, you're doing a heckuva job brownie! :)

Couldn't have said it any better cynic. Glad to see that a village in Texas got its' idiot back. Now we are left to clean up the terrible mess dubya created. NancyLouise

LOL! Right on!

When did the words patriotism and capitalism become interchangeable?

Being a patriot has nothing to do with spending money. In fact, you can be quite the patriot and a socialist. You can be a capitalist and not patriotic at all. I fail to see how the two concepts are connected.

That salesman was just using his latest sales pitch. We live close to Washington, D.C. and I've seen commentary that states clearly that saving money is patriotic. If we don't put money in the bank, they have no funds to lend out.

DH and I shop the local (non chain) stores and restaurants, recycle, buy books at the thrift store and then donate them back, post our unwanted large items on CraigsList instead of tossing them, do the painting and small repairs around the house ourselves, eat vegetarian, do not buy bottled water or soda, share one car that we brought with cash, and pay our credit bills in full each month. We have no debt except a mortgage that will be paid off in a few years.

I agree with most of what was said here: Being patriotic means voting at every election (but only once, smile), buying local, recycling and reducing what is tossed, paying our taxes, managing our money wisely (so that no one has to "rescue" us), and supporting the local schools, charities, etc.

Isn't it crazy how the stores twist the word patriotism to mean that we should help them survive? It might be just me, but it seems that only the chains and big box stores use this cynical sales pitch.

Not really - see myself more as a citizen of the world. But then, I'm Canadian.

Yes, and I drive a car made by an American car company.

We have allowed the politicians to sell us out. We had our chance when Perot ran, then again with T. Boone, but we were stupid, self-absorbed, as usual. The DNC and RNC along with the news media run this country.

So, fly your beautiful red-white-and-blue flag now, while you can. Soon you'll be required to fly one with a red dot. And, we'll need to learn a new language - ALL of us will be required to speak it. No more signs in english and spanish!