911 remebered... are we better off today?

The Economy
Wow where do we start on this roller coaster! Following the unexpected catastrophe, I thought the world economy would immediately be devastated. But again, somehow the economy seemed to flourish. Businesses rebuilt, moved to new locations and the U.S. seemed to get stronger for a time period. Housing markets went ballistic, growing at an unbelievable rate. We had some very good years. But, then you know what hit the preverbal fan. Half way through the decade everything began to unravel at an alarming pace. The snowballing effect became an avalanche. The cost of two wars, the housing bubble burst, the loss of U.S. Companies overseas and the eventual unemployment reaching 9+%, 15+ % underemployed, the union vs. nonunion vs. management has created an unrest in a country (not to mention the world) that has possibly never been seen before. Was this part of the Osama scheme? Was he that intelligent that he could predict the high cost of war, the long duration of fighting would lead the U.S. into such financial turmoil? Or was this all predetermined and part of Bible prophecy. (Money will be thrown in the streets Ezekiel 7:19) The huge ponzi schemes that destroyed many individuals from the middle class to the most wealthy. We have truly spiraled into an abyss that is very difficult and confusing of which to pull ourselves out.
How we right the ship is still to be seen. I have my opinions;
First the jobs that were lost due to technological advances will never come back; companies have leaned to be more effective, efficient and streamline the work force. The companies that left the U.S. to overseas are not being allowed to return without paying huge sums of money toward the income they made while abroad. (If there needs to be a stimulus package, then here it is… bring the American companies home, provide them a tax amnesty and put Americans back to work!) The government can not be the major employer because the cost of operations falls solely on the tax payer. (The governments
Needs; i.e. roads, damns etc should be put out to bid for private contractor to perform the work at a competitive cost) The long term benefit packages, the social security system and pensions need to be changed or in many cases eliminated.
We are not in a better place now than we were ten years ago; the hope of this writer is that we will improve over the next 10 years! I have 4 children that hope will an easier time than I have had. I hope that heir children will have it easier and all can be more productive than I. I think we all wish these things for our kids. The question is; can we put aside our Childish infighting and move in a positive direction.