The United States economy is far from a depression; as a matter of fact, the media and a growing percentage of economists started using the "R" word only a few months ago. I do not expect to see a depression in my lifetime.

The US is a going concern and will remain so. Still, there are developments that remind observers of the days of Hoovervilles - shantytown 1930s communities of homeless citizens nestled out of sight near the railroad tracks instead of on Main Street USA.