America was a great nation. The concept of America is great. America can be great. America is not currently great. America is no longer the world's richest nation, nor the most successful economy; It is the poorest country and it's economy is the biggest liar, masquerading debt as capital. America has been living a lie, forced to take on increasing amounts of debt (selling future) to hide her true problems. This is unsustainable.

What, for most Americans, is the difference between America and many other nations? The Middle Class and its standard of living. What continues to enable the Middle Class to exist? Their access to debt - selling their future to others (a modern form of slavery). PERIOD. Most Americans are but one paycheck away from being in serious trouble. Many Americans are worth LESS than most citizens in other nations that they look down upon. America is not rich... America is now the poorest nation on Earth. The access to cheap debt is drying up and the house of cards is falling down. Capitalism without capital is not capitalism.

Capitalism can't be solely funded on debt, that is slavery (owing your future to someone else!). America doesn't practice true capitalism. That is the problem we are witnessing. What is most people's (including politicians) answer? Bailouts and other socialistic policies. Socialism got us into this mess, but we pretended it was capitalism and blamed capitalism while looking toward socialism for answers. That is a joke. Capitalism was the answer - it was what brought wealth to America to begin with. We changed the system and now look at where we stand.

The system was changed so that others' (the private banks that control the Federal Reserve and the politicians that control government) would control the money supply and our wealth. When others control the money they can control the people and funnel the wealth to themselves with increased taxation. This keeps the common man down. Taxation comes in many forms. You have taxes on earnings, taxes on purchases, taxes on payroll, property taxes, hidden taxes built into products (oil - the main energy source for this economy), taxes on investments, capital gains, and death taxes. Now they are talking about taxes on air. They tax money that has already been taxed. This level of taxation only further keeps us enslaved and asking for help from the government - The very same government that took our money and wealth away to begin with. Inflation is another tax that is largely hidden. This all allows the government and those that control it to have control over us! This was not always the case. At one time we had a real currency. Wealth, was at one time, real! They couldn't track it very well, nor tax it efficiently. They changed the system, the currency, and the rules. After they created a fiat currency they could completely control (they did it over time), they went on to slowly create new taxes (hundreds of taxes now exist). They then slowly increased the taxes. Inflation was largely hidden from us without including the cost of energy, food, or housing. Our wealth was dwindled away to nothing. How else do you explain 4th and 5th generation Americans still not owning anything, especially when they should own some of the wealth that their forefathers earned during their lifetimes? Inflation and taxes ate away my forefathers lifetime earnings - and they did have some wealth and lived very frugally. What is to show for their savings? After inflation and taxes, not a whole lot. A viable currency should also be a good store of wealth, which fiat currencies are NOT!

I have concluded that those who own the Federal Reserve (it's not federal!) now also have a huge influence on politicians. They help get them elected with large donations and contacts. We call America a Democracy, but it's an oligarchy. There are two parties! You get to choose A or B! The big media companies polarize America on smaller issues and help the parties stay in power by not allowing another party to emerge and be competitive. Both parties have been promoting socialist policies. Neither party is much different. Both parties have implemented FREE trade agreements with foreign nations that have not allowed us free access to their markets. Yup, both parties have made it so we must unfairly compete with foreigner's who play by a different set of rules/laws (while we have our hands tied!). Both parties wanted the bailout! McCain and Obama were both in favour of giving taxpayer money (not yet earned money, further enslaving America's future with increased debt) to private banks - and only the really big ones - not the local community banks or regular citizens. It is suspicious that the bill gave power over the currency to an external person who could not be audited or investigated. If it was "our" money (we the people), then why was it not done in an open fashion for all to see? But we can't ever know what happened with that money.

Furthermore, what do you expect politicians to do as the house of cards continues to tumble down? More bailouts - to the large corporations - and yet no help at all for the small guy... In fact, they will tax the small/mid size businesses and the Middle Class to pay for the bailouts. Then, of course, they will give some handouts to the poor to appease them and keep the system from chaos and rebellion. That is what socialism is - it is handing money to the very poorest to stop a rebellion, while putting control of the masses in the hands of the few.

There is a serious flaw with the current system. It's called debt (and fiat currency). Debt is not capital, currency or wealth. Most Americans have been lied to, told to go out and take a 30 year mortgage on a home - that it is a good investment. As interest rates got lowered, more Americans rushed out to buy homes - and they bid each other up in the process. A home that once cost $80,000 then climbs to $100,000+ in a matter of months, not because of inflation (though that also hurts!), but because people bid the homes up against each other with debt dollars - not even money they have, but tomorrows earnings. The manipulation of interest rates and of the currency have created the big bubbles and busts. Manipulation is not capitalism.

America would be free if she and her citizens were free of debt, taxes and inflation. Debt is the master, the owner - Americans are free to work where they want (as long as they can find or create a job that makes money). But Americans are not free to decide if they want to work. Most Americans must. They are not free. They are wage slaves. Someone else owns their future. They are slaves to the system. Even a portion of the money they earn is taken. When they die another portion of their life's work is taken. Inflation eats the rest. This keeps our future generations down.

The system is designed wrong. Using debt as a currency is an evil of sorts. While the banks get bailed out (those that issue debt to others) - The people in debt see no bailout. Truth is, neither should have to be bailed out. The socialist system got us here. A system of fiat currency and the Federal Reserve (that is not federally owned - but a private corporation!) that controls our debt and what interest rates we must pay. Socialistic policies only delay the inevitable with bailouts and spreading the wealth around artificially and unsustainably. For how long will they delay the inevitable? We don't know. Fiat currencies have always failed in history - and this one is set to fail as well. They won't let it fail without a fight - but the longer they delay it, the worse the consequences will be. Remember, their solution is socialism and we know how well that has worked for others and ourselves.

After nearly a century with fiat currency and the Federal Reserve, America's wealth has diminished to nothing. A century of hardworking individuals and what is left to show for it all? We still have no money and owe more than ever to others. The fiat currency and the Federal Reserve, combined with socialism promoted by both political parties has bankrupted America with an illusion of wealth and prosperity that promoted a level of unsustainable consumerism and a culture that was eager to take on more debt (remember, our culture used to despise debt!).

A rich country doesn't have to take on debt. A rich country's citizens don't have to take on debt. A rich people don't owe their future to others. America is not free. America, indebted to others. America, The Broke.

Ask yourself. How did America go from the most successful, prosperous and rich country on Earth - to this? America abandoned the system which brought us our initial success.