Didn't you know? This was an inevitable, identifiable and predictable event.

When the dust settles and the intellectuals are called to analyze what went wrong here, only then will we have the answers to what we ponder today.  Theoretically speaking, cataclysmic events systematically occur on a 500 year cycle according to some unknown researchers.  Are these "soothsayers" accurate? There are some things we know to have happened. How about the Fall of the Roman Empire? From the demise of the Dark Ages around 1000 A.D. and emergence of the Middle Ages through 1500 A.D. how was it possible for man to traverse this change and survive into what we now call the Modern Age?  The Monarchs and wealth ruled the empires. The common man suppressed without knowledge.

In an instant the World was transformed.  The information was immediately made available to the commoner.  The field of knowledge now equaled all classes, rivaling the private libraries of the wealthy.  The knowledge could be transported rapidly and existed economically in all communities.  Whole empires came under challenge by individuals wielding the new found power of information.  New governments arose to cope with the technology.    The impact was staggering.  What was it?  The invention of the printing press and movable type.  Now a new class of people acquired the power and wealth displacing the old as revolution swept Europe. The 15th century brought us Columbus, Gutenberg, Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Luther.  Let's neither forget the printing press and one of our favorites, gun powder. Thank you China!      

Is it now our turn to be challenged by technology?  What forces are at play which are not yet exposed to us?  Our legacy will not be the Real Estate Crisis of the early 21st century.  Do you think people were strutting around London in 1523 saying, "I'm so glad those Middle Ages are over, the Modern Age is awesome."  Probably not.  How about 1930, we didn't know it was the "Great Depression".  We all become too focused on the continual 24 hour a day input of "the News"  which tends to distort our view of reality.  Beware of the idea that these events are unprecedented, chances are good there's plenty of precedent.

There have been nine depressions since the middle of the 16th century occurring on average about every 60 years.  This will be the first time that our government will play a massive role in redirecting the economy in a fashion unavailable to them during the 20's and 30's.  This will not be the end of the World, but we will emerge as a different entity upon it's conclusion.