Making comparisons about how bad off we are

We've grown accustom to a lifestyle and a set of expectations that the planet and the economy cannot support. When something is unsustainable, by definition it cannot continue on forever. In some sense that is the story of our current economic crisis. One of the aspects of it that makes it painful though is that the adjustments are currently taking place in a very uneven fashion across society – many good people are finding themselves completely unemployed, while others continue to earn a substantial income. The difference between the two can often be the result of almost random circumstances.

While I don't mean to diminish the mental anguish of those suffering hard economic times right now, (having experienced a good bit of that anguish myself when I lost my job after 26 years), it is also worth noting that even people in difficult economic circumstances in this country are quite well off compared to large segments of the population in poorer sections of the world. And we are better off than the people who experienced economic hardships during the great depression. While the economic safety net here may not be as good as it is in western Europe, people still do have access to food through government programs and private charities, and emergency medical care is available to all. There is still fee public education for children. And though we tend to take this for granted, a very major benefit is that we still have a stable society with a relatively low crime rate.

The emotional tole from the insecurity is very taxing, and it is compounded by a feeling of personal failure in the back of your mind when you see other people who appear to have secure jobs. However, there should be some small comfort from the fact that our emotions tend to exaggerate how bad our circumstances are by comparing them to other people or other times. Such comparisons, when done realistically, can instead lead one to count one's blessings.