With the financial markets crashing around us and the rapidly disappearing job market, the future of the greatest country in the world does not look rosy.

The Great Depression of the 1930’s resulted in enactment of governmental regulations impacting the banking and financial industries, mandates designed to protect U.S. citizens from another widespread economic disaster.  Social Security was born to provide a safety net for citizens reaching the age of retirement (65), so that they could enjoy the twilight of their years.  The cost of delivering this program was placed upon America’s workers, who contributed weekly to the fund, directly from their paychecks.

One would assume that monies intended to cushion retirees from financial worries would have been protected from use by other government-sponsored programs. Unfortunately, the Social Security contributions were placed into a general fund, falling prey to the representatives we had elected to run our government.

Due to the current unemployment rate, the highest since 1967, we are starving the goose that lays the golden egg.  Bereft of funds, the Social Security system is projected to collapse in 2037.

The only shining star upon the horizon is the Mayan calendar.  Ending in 2012, the calendar portends the expiration of the world as we know it.  Maybe, we all should plan to revel at an End of the World party, financed by the unused Social Security funds as a last hoorah!