It's all about money.
In the days of affluence and security pre 1911, people began to see their standard of living rise. Finally, the American People were beginning to reap the benefit of the post depression early 1900's. Plentiful food and American-made products were everywhere. Then the car began to replace the horse, the small town was destroyed. The small town's great autonomy began to secede to the metropolis. Little by little, the cities sucked out the energy and the youth of the country. Cities rose up largely due to the automobile and technology, such as electricity, which was non-existent in upper New York State in 1914 but was the norm in Times Square. Then war happened. I mean the great one, WWI. Americans no longer could argue that they were namby pamby isolationists , they were part of the New World Order. The age of walk quietly and carry a big stick descended upon the nation. Needless to say our imperialism reaped enormous benefits for a very few. The Roaring 20s brought enormous wealth to the corporations, the mafia, the politicians, and the small businessman. But there was no real governmental support for the money flowing into the country, and so it all collapsed in 1929. Several years later and the entire infrastructure of capitalism collapsed.
The capitalistas were quick to move. Rockefeller, Dupont, Ford, GE, General Dynamic, IG Farben all banded together under the banner of fascism. Fascism would save the day. It turned out that corporatism was a little premature. Instead what occurred was totalitarianism and war. American corporations found themselves in a tight spot after supporting Hitler. Suddenly they had to denounce him and join with the "Socialist" President FDR in a war on fascism. America and the all democracies of the world, including France, prevailed. After the victory, we immediately carved a deal with the Nazis to keep this war thing going, it was too good for business after all. That next war was the war on Communism. We, the People of the United States of America, enlisted 2000 Nazis in our secret army to bring down the Soviet Union. We fought vicious proxy wars for the next 50 years starting in Korea, then Vietnam, then Afghanistan, to try and topple the Evil Empire. Ronald Reagan finally emerged the victor. Even though his administration made deals with terrorists, today termed evildoers by the administration in power. We beat the living daylights out of the Soviet Union so that today they are viewed as "a basket case". End Phase Two. Communism and Fascism are dead.
Time will tell what the Soviet Union will emerge as in the 21st century. Now the terrorists we so vehemently supported in Afghanistan have turned against us supposedly over our policy in Israel. We are unhappily engaged in reelecting the biggest fan of war, G.W. Bush, who thinks that Americans are equally supportive of his wars against old hapless villains that we helped to create, namely Mr. Hussein and "Wanted Dead or Alive" Osama.
On the embattled home front, Wal-Mart slashes its prices like Michael Myers excuses naughty teens and succeeds in being the hugest success story in modern capitalism in the U.S. of A much to the disgust of the citizens of Vermont and other progressive peoples. How can one discredit success? Easily, by accusing it being unfair. The poor ghetto class of the world make the stuff we stuff our houses with consequently driving down America's standard of living. It works. Who cares if it's immoral. Was capitalism ever moral? C'mon, nothing is fair in life. Almost everybody accepts that in America or they're viewed as not being cool. The question is where do we go from here? How do the concerned fight the abusers? To the right or to the left? Elect John Kerry? He supports the President on the war, the tax cuts, the Patriot Act. It appears in this election that we, not as nation but as a small minority in power in Washington voted in by 26% of the population, are headed to the right because the right makes us seem safer even though we feel safe only due to rhetoric.
The present-day situation resembles the mid-19th century in America when cheapness was the main concern. In other words, keep it cheap and expand. Otherwise, you risk bringing in a situation such as occurred in 1914, God Forbid, when Americans could actually afford valuable goods, eat well and live to be over a 100. That was quickly taken care of during the depression. As long as cheap goods are made in ghettos, America will last. Otherwise, a rise in the standard of living will cause the capitalists in power to reassess their tactics against the middle class.