You raise great points, in fact, most of the responses I read have good points. First, this problem is way too large for anybody to put "bullet-point" causes and then opine their version for the cure. This problem goes into so many different industries that are the backbone of this Great Nation, but the one thing that continues to raise it's ugly head is GREED! Bankers, CEO's, Middle management, Elected Representatives, Jack-ass union BA's, and ultimately the workers themselves; all of us can point fingers to one another as the cause, but it really falls back to EVERYONE!! It starts with the officials we elect to represent us politically and financially. If we all take the time to research the integrity of the people we put into these extremely high power offices or manage the funds our retirement accounts are tied too, our country will begin to turn back to the good. These problems are NOT going to fix themselves with socialism, they aren't going to fix themselves by throwing money at them, they will fix themselves when WE as a collective group of people who are sick and tired of the status quo stand up and vote these A-holes out of the offices they have corrupted. Lets start there and work our way through the rest of this mess.