Somehow we have allowed corporate America to reduce us to the Middle Ages' economics, a two class society -- the Haves and the have Nots -- where in, if the Haves were in a good mood -- they would literally throw a bone to the Nots, which is a basic definition of the trickle-down theory of economics: When rich people make a lot of money, it trickles down to us as leftovers.

Are we really stupid? Well we didn't raise Hell when credit cards began charging 19 percent interest, which is truly rapacious: greedy and grasping. What'd we do about it? Worked more hours.

Why? A trip to Wal-Mart in a 20-mpg car costs about four dollars round trip. Basic costs of living like food and shelter have risen about 20 to 40 percent, which means that the dollar bill in your pocket last year is now just change, about 60 to 80 cents.

Yep, inflation shrinks our money. If you were lucky enough to make $28,000 last year, this year your $28,000 is about $22,400.

How did this happen? First off, in 2001, president Bush saved face for his daddy's flippant promise "No New Taxes," a broken promise, which we paid for via his son giving a tax "rebate" that will continue into the year 2011 at a final cost of $1.3 trillion. How much did you get?

Second, from 2001 to 2007 the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have cost $600 billion, headed for a total in 2010 of $2.4 trillion.

Third, the 2008 Economic Stimulus package cost us $152 billion this year, heading for an additional $124 billion by 2017; a total of $276 billion.

Fourth, the bailing out of criminally manipulated banks will cost us about $700 billion this year. The big boys at the banks will cash out of their jobs with millions of dollars, while larger banks will buy the ruins for pennies on the dollar and keep up the same swindles.

So who's to blame? We are. We were lazy, and we glommed onto social, religious, and flag waving distractions ­-- simplistic blah-blah that we're now paying for dearly.

What now? Well, don't monkey see, monkey do. Do your own homework, listen to yourself. While you're thinking, check out the numbers. Eight years ago we had one of the largest monetary surpluses ever. Today, we have the largest monetary debt in recorded history.

Stop being treated like a mushroom: kept in the dark and fed full of bull.