Given the current age and increasing gap towards social security, I think a problem will occur.

Everytime I am just dumbfounded by the fact that these people haven't made any substantial savings during their "prosperous times" and by that I don't mean 10.000$ or so. How can it be that myself having had all the adversities in terms of unemployment, years idle against my will, living in what you refer to as socialist Europe, as a self employed person taxed with additional purpose taxations in my home country Holland , and still be able to save 1000000Euros and more.All this despite having suffered from all three major downturns on the stock market.There must be a fundamental (cultural) different pattern in spending behavior. Honestly, touring the US southwest this summer, 6500km, I have been able to see the difference in attitudes.A patty example...I live in a highly energy efficient house, I use 35 Watts for lighting.An average small coffe bar ,I have counted easily reaches 3000Watts during the day, only lighting! does this ring some, some, sort of bell? Gerard, Netherlands