If our economy weakens slowly, people may remain tolerant far too long anticipating a "come-back.
" They may passively allow their savings to be depleted or the companies to go bankrupt before they begin to object to the government.
Rather than assertively demonstrating, people often try to escape their anxiety about the future.
As making ends meet becomes increasingly difficult, stress accumulates and can become overwhelming.
The use of alcohol, street drugs and prescription medicines increase but only prolong the passivity.
During hard times, people may determine that they cannot afford another child, thus the abortion and adoption rate is also affected by a falling economy.
Numbers of divorces and spousal abuse increase with escalating financial difficulty.
A society suffering ill health, financial worries, war and addictions is too weak to complain and that creates a safe haven for selfish and incompetent leaders.
However, many people use adversity to makes changes.
Empty nesters begin to let go of once precious, now burdensome possessions, recognizing that each "thing" accumulated requires storage, maintenance, time and money.
Many executives walk away from high-powered positions before a crippling heart attack or stroke forces their hand, wisely choosing to scale down during lean years of war and government mismanagement.
The more quickly a society objects to poor leadership, the less likely pressured people will resort to numbing their pain with drugs or alcohol.
Society eventually turns on and ousts the leaders who have made unwise decisions.
When the economy recovers and people are successful and prosperous, they may unfortunately, let their guard down and allow poor money managers to take office again, repeating the cycle.
An assertive outspoken and demanding society is the answer to reversing the downward trend America is currently experiencing.