Over last 40 years we have become a nation of consumers, instead of a nation of producers. We could be described as grazers living as a collective body, not knowing or realizing how far off path we have strayed off path.

In 1950’s one would seldom hear of a person filing bankruptcy, being foreclosed on. Today however, if you live in a middle-class income neighborhood and drew a circle containing one hundred homes you would find following:

At least one house would be empty from foreclosure, one foreclosure in process and, four to seven other neighbors who are more than three months behind on their house payment.

What has changed in last 40 years has been a thing called debt. The family of late 1960s and 1970s, began to borrow! Banks and lending institutions began to aggressively market to American public and before long we were sold on idea that borrowing was good. As a result, today we have financial products of all kinds and for all situations.

As a result, 2003 consumer debt surpassed 1.7 trillion dollars, credit cards account for almost half of that credit card debt.

Taking this into account, it is more difficult to building a secure financial future more difficult today then at any time prior. Not because there is a lack of investment vehicles to choose from, it is because we lack sufficient capital to invest. It is hard to be a “producer” when most of your money is tied up in debt and taxes.

What is American Dream?