The vast majority of the problem today is the senseless fear you gentlemen are exhibiting.
America is one of three major countries which did not suffer any fighting within its territories during (or as a result) of WW2.
Bonus points for naming the other two...
As a result the past 60+ years we have been living in a bubble. Not a tech, real estate, bull market type bubble...but a reality bubble.
All this talk about "elites" and "the game" belongs on the fear mongering pages which could once be found on the walls of Inquisitionist Churches, except now we are babbling about it online.
Americans need to get back to the simple core CONSERVATIVE VALUES (read what I said, no mention of a political party for a reason) which built this country.
In other words, work, save, preferably for yourself and spend only on what you need and that 62 inch plasma and the 28 inch deep dish rims for you '89 Bronco that you absolutely must have.
People still refuse to recognize THAT THE HOUSING BUBBLE IS DUE TO IDIOTS WHO KNEW THEY COULDN'T AFFORD A HOME BUYING ONE ANYWAY...and...IDIOTS WHO HAD SOME MONEY TRYING TO FLIP HOUSES ON THE SIDE SO THEY WOULD HAVE SOME WATER COOLER CHAT ON MONDAYS!!!!
Yes, Bernanke has a lot to answer for, but the public at large has nobody to blame but it self.
IF AND ONLY IF...we accept this and move on, everything will be fine.
But keep looking for the scapegoat and soon enough that goat will be our primary mode of transportation.