It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find an accurate account of what is taking place in the US economy. The mainstream media has no interest in this, and most of the rest don't even think about it.

The reality is that while the US has imposed what are called "neo-liberal economic policies" on the so-called developing world economies, our "leaders"--both Dems and Republicans--have also imposed them on the US economy. The affects on "ordinary" Americans has been atrocious. A comparison between the period 1947-1973 and 1973-2001 (with latest extensive government data) shows that (1) economic growth overall in the latter period is MUCH smaller, and (2) it is distributed much more unequally, causing the amount of inequality in this country to climb so much that the US is more economically unequal than some of the poorest nations on earth--such as Bangaldesh, Uganda and Viet Nam.

It is time that all of us recognize the affect the choice to continue to try to dominate the rest of the world is having on our country and our people.