I think there's opportunity to be had in our economic times (and don't look toward the future with doom and gloom); however, at least in the U.S. we are making some very fundamental financial mistakes (which I wouldn't feel comfortable making in my own home, much less a nation). We're carrying huge amounts of national as well as private debt without concern, propping up the economy by blowing paper money into it (hence the dollar situation). At the same time we face dramatically increasing energy costs (which are inflationary) with no plan for the future save words, and lack the industrial production of the 70's. Medical care is a substantial issue; we have all these plans by politicos with absoultely no plan for paying for it. We bog down our development with special interests--it took 4 years to win WWII and now takes more than 20 to simply build a new runway ?
The resources and people are still here so we do have an economic future; I'd just rather we not have to keep getting hit on the head with a brick before we do something to lead turn and improve our lot.
I guess we can derive solace in those timeless words: "You'll be fine..."
Cheers