Topic: The New Normal: Currently the unemployed have no control over the credit history.  Let us say that you just got laid off from any of the companies that are in the news.  Let us say that you even lived within your means while you were employed.    You have to have a job to even worry about paying creditors.  And when you pay the bills, you fuel the economy which starts at the creditors.  You cannot force somebody to give an offer for employment.  When you have a career family or even are the sole-supporter, how are you going to hurdle the "no-excuses" mentality.  The "going concern" or the "viable entity" or the "liquid business model"  just laid a goose egg.  Go what will it be, human resources manager?  Can we dispense from the 6-Sigma mentality while the country is struggling to keep a 68% even at the highest levels?  We can worry about raises and equity after we have the job and after the economy improves.  Aside from the "welfare mentality" those who have businesses have to "want" to get the engine back on its feet.