***Editor’s Note: Portions of the following editorial (regarding the American economy being in good shape) are intended to be viewed as sarcastic in nature.***

The bulk of our news headlines these days have to do with the economy and the escalating financial crisis. And despite a recent ‘surge’ by the major indexes, the black cloud looming over Wall Street seems to grow more menacing every day. In fact, financial wizards confirmed yesterday what the average American already knew: that our nation is in the midst of an economic recession. “Cyber Monday” or not, the DOW closed down 680 points to finish the day at 8,149.

America has not seen such dark days since the 1930s, and regardless of the comparisons to that period and the constant labeling of ‘another Great Depression,’ I must admit that over the weekend my anxiety over our economic ‘woes’ went into a recession of their own.

Our economy is in fantastic shape. Never mind the growing trend of triple-digit losses on Wall Street, climbing unemployment rates, thousands of companies that are teetering on the brink of ruin, and a credit crisis which has fed a great deal of this distress, we seem to be doing quite fine.

Before Thanksgiving, like most Americans, I was worried. I looked at the closing reports from Wall Street each afternoon with trepidation and fear, and even went so far as to write and publish editorials on this blog regarding my anxiety over our national economic condition.

But I can admit when I am wrong in my assumptions…and wrong, I have been.

On Friday, I watched as Americans participated in the annual ‘economic stimulus’ tradition known as “Black Friday.” Despite the aforementioned conditions that have our nation on the cusp of a financial catastrophe, I observed the following events that have reaffirmed my full faith and confidence in the American economy and our ability to maintain a heightened state of prosperity:

* I watched hundreds of delusional shoppers at a Wal-Mart in New York, blinded by their greedy intentions      to be first to a ‘bargain,’ trample a store employee to death, never once heeding to common decency by        pausing to help. To magnify their barbaric behavior, the same animals complained about being told to         “stop shopping and exit the store” so medics could attend to the lifeless body lying near the entrance.

* I watched as grown adults wrestled each other over the last X-Box video game consoles in another store.

* I watched as a pair of men opened fire on one another inside a Toys ‘R Us store (apparently due to an         argument over a toy) that left two people dead.

I do not intent to make light of the violence or the loss of life that accompanied these horrific events. Yet, as tragic as they may be, they point to a reality that might indicate more about our society than we realize.

Even now, in the midst of the economic peril that grips our nation, people are giving way to their addiction to material possessions and to maintaining a particular lifestyle. Just look at what we’ve become. We’re no more than rabid animals, running wild to spend money on items that we don’t need and cannot afford. In our wake we’re leaving human dignity and common decency behind. Our reckless behaviors, while they may have helped us save an extra 15% on a materialistic form of entertainment, have cost others so much more.

If we’re willing to stoop to such barbaric forms of “shopping,” and our stores are willing to allow such nonsense to fill their aisles with blood by deranged promotions, then one must conclude that the very nature of our society will continue to bleed financially. We’re greedy animals, hording goods that do little to improve our actual standard of living. These items are mental band-aids, intended to make us ‘feel good’ about ourselves and our ability to provide, even in times of economic insecurity. And as long as we behave this way, we’ll spend ourselves to death by cutting our own wrists with the very credit cards found in our wallets, thus cutting off the legs of American prosperity in the long run, while falsely supporting an economy that is hanging by a thread.

Over A Video Game Console??? Are You Kidding Me??? (Click Here For Video)

An Arsenal Of Weaponry...Choose Wisely