Point of View

The Big Meltdown

I recently toured the famous "Biltmore" house in Ashville, North Carolina. It is the largest house in America, built by the very wealthy Vanderbilt family in the last decade of the 19th century. It is called a "house" but is a castle by every defnition. Today, it is a private enterprise tourist attraction, and well worth the cost to visit for those interested in our history.

I was struck by the enormity of the mansion, but also by the symbols of massive wealth, and the opulence attached to the lives of the fabulously rich. I felt no envy of those people, nor did I resent their status in America. The Vanderbilts were generous with their wealth. The staff of 35 or more servants and helpmates were well cared for and well compensated for their loyalty and dedication to their duties. The contrast with some of the "rich and famous" of our day is remarkable.

The Vanderbilt fortune came honestly and with a meteoric rise in the western expansion for shipping and railroads. It was a time of American inovation, and enterprise. The Vanderbilts were part of what made America great. When George Vanderbilt opened the house, on Christmas Eve, 1895, it was with great pride in the grandeur and architecture of the house.

American opulence in the year 2008 is more a sign of greed, fraud, dishonesty, and deception. Now, the so called "rich and famous" includes corporate pillagers, self serving politicians, Hollywood elites, and those with no conscience in their conquests. The great economic meltdown we are currently experiencing has been brought on by those catagories of citizens. America will recover from this setback, but it will take time. It will also take the resolve of our people to recover the values that made us what we became with hard work and dedication. We must not accept "Socialism" as a way to recover. We must return to a concept of personal responsibility and self support. Self indulgence and self pity will not cut it. Be inspired by those who earned their ticket to ride.