I have a theory that as long as the market is doing fine, people get this false sense of security and "feel" richer then they are. Just like the days when people's homes equity was sky-rocketing. People felt rich and would take money from house equity to elevate this "feeling" of being rich and spend the money for vacations, home improvement, new vehicles etc..
Well, when people lost their home equity because home prices fell dramatically, they looked to their 401K's, IRA's etc. Well, when the stock market dips, there goes the last thing that makes people feel better about their self-worth.

That ladies and gentlemen is when real panic rears it's ugly head.

What do people turn to for solace? Their jobs? How secure it that when the real unemployment is hovering at around 20%.

These are the concerns that drove me blindly to my first Tea Party Protest. Hubby and I just drove 45 minutes not knowing who was going to be there and what it was going to be like.
I saw people that were just like me. Regular every day people who were concerned about government spending and taxes and all the other stuff that ordinary people worry about.

That's why people are angry that they are demeaned as racists or kooks.
Anyways, I just realized that I am rambling and my fingers will not stop typing. I guess I am worried about my last piece of wealth, besides my modest home, going down the tube because our leadership is so concerned about things that scare the heck out of me.
I guess I just have to take comfort that we are all in the same boat?