--The disconnect between the politicians and the voters, the media and consumers, Wall Street and main street, the haves and have-nots -- has reached a critical mass. Simply put, people are going broke just trying to keep their heads above water. Everything from housing and utilities to taxes and insurance to health care and transportation -- cost more than the majority of Americans earn. Subsequently, most people must borrow just to eat and survive -- forget about sharing in the 'American Dream' or living like the people on TV, in the movies or in the magazines. Average people from all walks of life, races, religions and political parties are working hard, but still suffering and doing without the most basic of things that the power elite take for granted. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures, there are 40 million Americans living in poverty in the U.S. (As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, the weighted average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2008 was $22,025; for a family of three, $17,163; for a family of two, $14,051; and for unrelated individuals, $10,991). Add the unemployed and senior citizens to this and as high as half of the U.S. population is either out of work and/or living below the poverty line. And of course, 46 million people still have no health insurance, and still won't be able to afford it, under the bills working their way through Congress. The average individual income of those that do work is roughly $2,000 per month (or $500 a week). With average housing expenses (rent, mortgage and utilities) costing over $1,000 per month; and car payments, gas, insurance student loans, credit card bills and medical and expenses costing nearly the same, there's nothing any money left for food and living -- unless it's borrowed. Why don't the reporters and politicians talk about this? Don't they know that the majority of people are at their wits end -- living on the edge -- frustrated, angry, depressed -- even suicidal? How could the 'powers that be' be so cold? Despite all of these facts, the TV is full of commercials for cars that cost more than people earn in a year. Houses that cost more than some people earn in a lifetime. College educations that are worthless, but put graduates in debt for more than half their life. And the list goes on... The system is broke... it's too far gone... the only way out now is to nationalize everything as soon as possible and give people free health care, help with food and rent and forgiveness of all their loans and credit card bills. Anything less and we're headed for a crisis worse than Medieval Europe. Yeah, it scares me too.

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