I love how people love to complain about the WOT, yet many in this country (in the fall of 2001) not only wanted the war, but wanted us to use NUKES, for crying out loud. Then our short attention span ADD attitude took over, because our people do not have the tenacity to stay with anything. (Me? I have always felt the WOT was silly- a war on an act?) Then there are those who will cry that their homes have lost 20% of their value in the last 2 years, ignoring the fact that home prices nearly doubled over the 6 prior years. (a home worth $169,000 in 2000 would have sold for $247,000 in 2007)
In 2001, I went back to college and finished my degree. I now have 2: Emergency Medicine and Emergency Management.
In 2000, I made $40K. In 2008, I will make $82K. The wife and I together will make over $125K. (Am I one of the evil rich people that should be taxed?)
In 2000, I lived in an apartment with 2 roommates. In 2008, I own a home. (Is my wife a roommate?
)
In 2000, I was driving a 6 year old car with 90K miles on it. In 2008, I own a 6 month old truck with less than 7,000 miles.
I think I am doing better economically. Sure, what I did had a lot to do with it, but I credit this country for giving me the opportunity and the freedom to succeed. (I also had the opportunity to fail- life is what you make of it.)
Of course, my father passed away in Biloxi in 2005. I would give it all up to have him back again. I miss him each and every day. In that way, I am poorer today than I was when he was with us.