At the end of the first decade of the 21st century it is beginning to dawn on more and more people that things changed dramatically over the prior three decades. The worldwide financial debacle was a wake up call that these changes are real, and they are significant. The decline in the stock market from the fiasco of asset-backed commercial paper is a consequence of a culture that peddles entitlement, greed and self-centeredness. These characteristics are associated with extreme individualism. The problem is not about the fundamentals of capitalism; it is about culture. Individualism is a...

In the first decade of the 21st century, many educated men believed that the libertarian philosophies of limited government and strong individual liberty, based on reason and rational analysis could run with minimal oversight. Key decision makers on Wall Street chose not to apply critical thinking, but to intentionally take advantage of people, resulting in the widespread collateralized mortgages that led to the meltdown of the economy. With over a 30% reduction in the major investments of the middle class-homes and pensions-there is anger and disillusionment with the people running the...

Five decades of tax cuts for the rich have been linked to income inequality, but not economic growth. The 2008 economic debacle was the tipping point, accelerating the call for changes, and heralding the lost decade. This highlights the hollowing out of the middle class and the polarization of jobs - job growth for high and low paying jobs. People who want work, but cannot find work suffer greatly, not just from the loss of income, but from the diminished sense of self-worth. The Occupy Wall Street protests began - connected by the anger of the common person against the banks for manipulating...