Some thoughts on the survey results:
Arthur
Sometimes the polls are wrong. It would appear that might be the case here. It's astounding to see any sample of folks respond that their personal financial status is equal to or better than what it was four years ago after the last 18 Months of economic turmoil. The poll results may have been impacted by the age of folks interviewed and many other factors to include the fact that slightly more than half the country has access to a 401K program at Work (and higher visibility to their economic standing).
With continued, heavy job losses being reported (600 K monthly), our economy is not in good shape. Nationally, we're nearing the high misery index of (10%) unemployment. I work closely, as you know, with the retail sector. Many of this country's leading retail businesses continue to suffer deficit figures for both top and bottom lines. The domestic US Car market may emerge half of its pre 2008 size in a matter of months. All of this raises an interesting question. Perhaps you can pose it to your students as an exercise in leadership. If I'm okay and you're not, is that really Okay for us as a Nation? Are we really Okay with that?
Does the, "I got mine too bad you don't have yours" approach really reflect what leadership and being American is all about?
From a personal POV, I think that has been the mentality for many Americans in the last 2 decades. Will we go forward that way or is there a different day coming when we get to a different form of leadership?
Is that day today? Are we undergoing a "paradigm shift in terms of both personal and economic behavior". I can see the economic shift, I'm not so sure about the change in personal behavior (leadership, morality, etc..) Maybe your students have the answer.
Dan