ECONOMIC CRISIS :What Caused It ? The current economic crisis was caused by a few basic things, namely greed and stupidity. First and foremost the decline of manufacturing in the USA. Manufacturing created jobs, job security and was an instrument of education and career improvement regardless of social class or background. In addition factory inventories lent themselves to cushion other related industries in hard times. Barter was possible on a mutual basis. The decline of manufacturing was brought about by these factors : 1) Importation of everything and it's encouragement. 2) Astronomical cost of health coverage for employees. 3) Labor unions that did not cover all industries. (Why should someone do an excellent job for $22.00/Hr. at a skilled or engineering position when a job at a semi-skilled position could be had at $32.00/Hr.). 4) The digital/computer revolution. Billions were spent on computers and related support products since the early 70's but sales had declined due to importation. Many manufactures purchased CNC machinery from Japan that was capable of doing ten times the production required except now there was no requirement for the production. These went into bank auction. 5) So called environmental concerns. It was too costly to adapt. After manufacturing was sold down the river the American dream needed to be perpetuated so that no one would get angry at the people who sold it. This was done by offering mortgages to people who had no job security and limited income. It was swept under the carpet. In the mean time the healthcare industry price gouged to get whatever financial provision that these people might have had to pay for their homes. Your health is more important isn't it? Between the high pressure ad campaigns for medical products and services and Japanese cars the their was little room for the general consummers to put money elsewhere, even if it was in housing. Rising energy costs added more problems. The same importation philosophy that ruined manufacturing did so for oil. To compound this the mass popularity of the rediculous gas guzzuling SUV's made things worse. On the back end was employment. Already diminished by importation, wages were limited because of the skyrocketing insurance cost to the employer. Competion for jobs is rediculous and resumes are nothing more than confederate money. Parents in the meantime are further burdened with the dream of a college education for their children even though there are few jobs for the current graduates. Without the manufacturing sector (and even a decline in agriculture) the opportunities are limited. Everyone wants to be Bill Gates, buy more and more imported electronic digital junk and drive Japanese cars. To further complicate and feed the mess it has become the normal way of life to be lazy, overweight and sit in front of a computer or drive around in an SUV ( that uses more gas and everything else) with a cell phone talking to people for no reason. Because of the mass importation of cars, car repair has become thievery here as well. Our society has been encouraged to live a lazy, insecure, neurotic, paranoid hypochondriacal way of life that is powered by credit cards and stupidity. No one wants to work for a living. In our society the only people who are prosporus are medical/healthcare related or crooks. The rest of the population are well meaning fools who are funding their lifestyles.