A friend writes from overseas that "Americans have lost their minds." Surely, this is a troubling time. I do believe that there is a lot of important work being done to by many citizens all over this land to try to create the "tomorrow" we would all like to see. I find I am inspired by the creation of Singularity University. 

Talk about the condition of the nation, click "Listen to this show" button, spend some time with the subject, "Will inequality lead to revolution?" See  http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/10/will-inequality-lead-to-revolution

Would be a tragedy beyond dimension that history books should ever read, "Ten years after the attacks of  9.11.01 the United States ceased to exist as a world-class power, anymore." No, pray no.

Among many factors that currently diminish the value of human work, two impinge on the ability of creative people to earn a living: On a tremendous scale, the Internet, and more immediately, the role of certain "placement agencies." In the case of the former, I now receive emails from companies unknown offering to design corporate identity logos, marks and symbols for less than $100. This is absurd, but true. I note budgets have shrunk dramatically, competition is off the richter-scale, the commodification of human creativity is well under way. How about those DVD discs you can buy with all the info on them you will ever need to do you own "legal work." What once cost thousands of dollars paid to a knowledgable, trained professional now costs hundreds, or less-- without any human being involved. 

In the case of the second, some firms specializing in "placing creatives," would by empirical observation seem to take the hourly rate a creative professional might typically charge a qualified customer, and divide it by 3. They keep two-thirds, and offer you, the creative professional, one-third. Or, they may divide it by two, and do the same thing, paying themselves first, you second. Work for the company directly-- you don't need this kind of "help." Secondly, check the market economy rates among your professional colleagues before accepting any hourly-rate offers by such placement agencies.