Duff, it is interesting that you illustrate your point with a picture of a dead man...from most of your comments, that was my impressionanyway.
For those of you who saw Michael Moore's movie on Columbine, there was one point made, by Marilyn Manson, that reflects why we are in the situation we are in today.
That point...the roles of government and the media have merged with one common purpose...to enusre the public is as scared as possible.
The media perpetrates this (what to eat, what not to do, evils lurking that will harm your children, the latest study, global warming, etc, etc) so they can sell you stuff.
The government wants the public to be afraid so they will rely on the government rather than on themselves.
When The Obama talks of the waiting disaster from the debt issue, do you think companies want to hire, people want to spend, people start businesses or take risks. Of course not and, in addition, they take their money out of the stock market.
People aren't spending money, including their tax cuts, because they are scared.
The funny thing is, I think this is the first time in my lifetime when I look at our leadership and I think we have every right, and duty, to be very scared.