The Stock market

Who says that every man and woman is entitled to free money (8% yearly return) on money they put in the stock market? The excuse "risk merits reward" does not work, because nowadays people truly believe that a rounded pick of stocks will make from 6-10% (or more) every year. When the market takes a dive, everyone feels cheated. I thought that risk was part of the game? But no, people genuinely feel that it is realistic and normal to make money while doing absolutely nothing. "It's my money making money," they say. But how can money make money? Only people can produce the goods and services which have a dollar value. A 10-dollar bill today is a 10-dollar bill next year. Money is not productive by itself.

Materialism

The constant advertisements thrown at us, and virtually all the peer pressure we experience try to convince us that to be "good patriotic Americans" we have to buy a bunch of "stuff". We are supposed to invest in America—have confidence in the economy—by taking out huge mortgages, buying cars, spending all our money, and even going in debt if need be. Worrying that constant growth cannot be sustained forever is un-American, according to them.