We need to be able to edit these danged things. I should have said that not everyone accepts our gentle host’s premise.

As for Frank’s question, his own choice of terminology implies an answer. “Pusher” connotes a more deliberate action while “junkie” connotes vulnerability.

1st - most people identify with the little guy at the bottom, not the fat cats at the top
2nd - we’re all going to be affected, and since “most” of “all” are, as I noted, closer to the folks at the bottom than at the top, we are naturally inclined to take a more hostile view of the party at the farthest end.
3rd - Not everyone accepts Uncle Frank’s premise that it is the little guys at the bottom who are the root of the entire mess.

I think everybody pretty much answered Uncle Frank’s question.

I am not wealthy; I’m not partying with the small handful who have the power and money to manipulate the system from the top, nor am I struggling, nor have I signed contracts I can’t honor. But I can see how the effects of this crisis may affect me, could cost me my health insurance, could cost me my job, and that it could be very difficult for me to compete with younger, more technologically sophisticated, more resilient and (did I mention younger?) less battle weary competitors for what jobs aren’t frozen or phased out.

I guess my lack of faith in human beings in general causes me to feel greater sympathy for the deluded dingalings at the bottom. They’re no better or worse in mores or morals than the ones at the top — but they’re certainly less fortunate.

Also, I’m feeling closer to ‘em all the time on the rungs of the national ladder.

I never mentioned that I was “comfortable” or somehow stupendously “self-sufficient”.

My points have been only to illuminate the fact that the public–(read, OTHER PEOPLE)–are not responsible for how my life or the lives of anyone else might be faring.
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Now, on to a more interesting topic.

The N&O is paring down even more. I will miss the “Q” section simply because it’s just always been there.

Why do they keep chipping away at the actual paper? They could achieve the same degree of savings by eliminating several of their superfluous and incompetent employees.

Drescher below:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2711/story/1235178.html

(By the way, who is the book editor mentioned by someone above who was eliminated?)

Your verbal gyrations seem to be going down that same path you supposedly decry.

“Judgmental?”

Most certainly presumptuous and insular, you are.

FYI, (if anyone gives a flying fig)……I don’t listen to this WPTF you mention. Don’t have the time, or wish to take the time for talk radio.

And I pay for my health care out of my own pocket.

Don’t expect violins in the background from me.

Some of you guys just don’t know how to hang without all those safety nets under you.

You flail about as if the rest of the world should stop what they’re doing to come to the assistance of these supposedly educated people and lift them up from their own bad decisions.

And I have only contempt for these corporate and Wall Street movers-and-shakers. They take advantage of the stupidity of others and are basically unapologetic–and very transparent–thieves.

What to do?

There have always been unscrupulous businessmen and businesswomen.

But don’t worry……the govern-MINT will always come to the aid of fools.