As a former teacher, I've seen how bad things have become in the past decade, and it isn't going to get better any time soon.What's worse is that popular culture is embracing the misuse of words and the media propagates it as well.Its the dumbing down of American Society, and it is happening in front of our very eyes.

No one wants a slug to go through a wall into another apartment.Yeah, the legal issues get complicated in this overly-litigious society of ours.

It builds character, yes, and makes you appreciate what you have, but it's not the only way to turn out a productive, responsible member of society."

•Curacao is attractive for investors: great location, a stable democracy, no hurricanes, modern facilities and constant economic growth (3% in 2007)•Offshore banking available.

What's worse is that many all too many people now believe that the real estate bust was the result of an unbridled free market run amok when in fact it was the result of the inherent moral hazard of simultaneously encouraging the "ownership society" through a Federal Reserve policy of artificially low interest rates and government bailouts, quasi-government corporations backing loans, and other tinkering to prop up an otherwise slumping market.

I got a lot of personal satisifaction taking that 1st, preforeclosure junker and turning into a modern, beautiful looking home.

We are clearly a debt society and the perceptions we have about the Jones' may not be reality.

These older buildings are built MUCH better than more modern buildings and will be here decades after some of today's building are gone.Mike

Is our society following capitalism?

But, since I don't think a depression will happen and our society is not about to break down, I am still buying properties not disposing of them and keeping my cash securely in banks and brokerages.Anyone chanting the end of our financial system is near while still holding an asset like real estate or stocks is just blowing smoke.