Reinkef: A good dose of Gladwell's Outliers would give you an edge and slightly different frame. I think John Wayne is utter nonsense. Although there is some sense in rugged individualism, it ain't the whole sense by a long shot. On that occasion, I'll side with Friedman.

Whatever happens it will be a painful time for many Americans. My parents have been pretty dumb about their whole life, never really saving for retirement and coasting along at jobs like they were entitled to a good life as an American. They think everything will be fine. What will life be like for the people like them who are just coasting along, thinking everything will be ok?
There will be a lot of people out of work, and unable to get a new job, because they don't have the attitude to dig in and work hard. They will cry for help to the Government for welfare, but the government won't have any money left for them, due to over-spending in the war on Iraq, and all the bail-outs for the failing companies.
Will some foreign country step in and make them all slaves?
Will lazy Americans be good as slaves or will they be lousy workers?
Will there be riots and revolutions?

Who can predict or envision this kind of future?
How will it affect tech companies, and other companies in the US and the world?
i.e. will there be any opportunities if everyone is running rampant in the streets like wild dogs, fighting and stealing to survive? Will it be that bad?

how a incredible piece of technology. some people may not always seem to comply this. but in the european language it almost always completes.