I agree with Messrs. Stossel & Shepard. The summer of '89 I learned that a friend couldn't move into his apartment because it was not painted yet. Sensing an opportunity I went to the mgmt and said I could paint it. 20 apartments later I had enough money saved for half a year of school at Michigan. The next summer I painted over 90 and a dozen homes in the area.

Sensing another opportunity as an organic family, I started www.organicbythecase.com last April with my wife, Yvette. We're getting there but part of the fun is beating Amazon on pricing.

America is still the land of opportunity, you just have to go and take it.

America will, once again, be the land of opportunity when Taxpayers get fed up with politicians and their 'hype' and let them know they're no longer employed in America, since they opted to sell Americans out!
Instead of all these infrastructures politicians continue to talk about (which is another Freddie, Fannie, AIG, Banks, BIG 3, CEOS, and others taking money that doesnt belong to them, Taxpayers take their skills in textile and furniture manufacturing, begin making their goods, opening on week-ends at flea markets to sell and barter with their neighbors (like in yester years), guess what'll happen? Heartbeat of America will return ten-fold! 'fat cat' politicians ',"Group shifts focus to entrepreneurship"noting that UNCG starting new programs. I'm quoting "One aimed at undergraduates, and anyone with college degree!" If you take a look around, the ‘fat cats' in government always hire these people to make statements like "We're putting people back to work", when in essence they're only creating bigger goverment with no stability! It's now a proven fact, you can get all the degrees you want, but without ‘common sense', ‘getting your hands dirty', and actually working in a business from sweeping the floors to answering the phones (I do mean answering phones when they ring), you're backing up! It's going to take more than talent! Hard labor and long hours come to mind. Looking like you just stepped off the front page of a magazine won't be happening, so get over it!
I've written many articles over the years about the Heartbeat of our America! Until Textile and Manufacturing jobs are brought back to America there's absolutely no need for government, let alone bigger government, as these were the ‘working with your hand jobs' that used to be the backbone and stability of our country.
Let's look at economics, my way! Fast Foods, Donut & Coffee Shops, Bars, Saloons and many more come to mind (service oriented, not manufacturing anything), but I'm trying to make a point! Leases/Rents, furnishings, heat, lights, water, and licenses/permits have to be paid whether you get a business up and running in 3-5 years or not. Just opening the doors to public, ordering food or supplies for your new business cost money. After all, there's only so much you can charge for a cup of coffee, donut, biscuit, and manicure! This is why the overhead of these type businesses will never be profitable!
Let's see if I can explain this further! Our forefathers worked long, hard hours using their hands, horses and crude tools. Raising and pulling cotton to put clothes on their backs, curtains, and later provide material coverings for furniture (that we no longer have in America). Using hoes and mules to provide gardens. Raising cows, hogs and chickens to provide for their families. The new type American thinks all they have to do is get a degree so they don't have to get their hands dirty! Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but that degree is a piece of paper, and if you have acquired none of the traits, used by your grandparents and great grandparents, you're useless in America!
The Amish Community should always be proud that they've maintained a world, filled with the best of everything, and to know that they've done all they do without destroying our earth! America needs more Amish folks and less Al Gores and big government

@ S. deLong:
Do you know how to get your point across without punctuating every sentence with an exclamation point?