There was general agreement with Barber's belief that a sense of privatization has taking over our society in areas that used to be for the public good with a resulting loss of community.

More global markets today put extreme pressure on local governments that have no control over multinational corporations that are outside any nation's laws and regulations. This loss of regulation helps contribute to our present problems in finance, economics, and world trade as witnessed recently in our present financial meltdown world wide.

All agreed that the original intent of capitalism was not a bad thing but it has varied off course. Some members felt that as capitalism has spread all over the world in the past 50 years democracy has assumed an offensive posture to counter communism overtaking the world, but the situation has changed.

Our wants as a culture are way out of line with our needs. We must start slowly and at a personal level to make significant changes in our life. Advertising goes after children at an early age. Our children are brainwashed to consume incessantly.

There was discussion how the Scandinavian countries have tried to handle their social and economic problems and maybe we can learn from them to do a better job with our capitalism and democracy. A comment was made that we are the only western industrial nation not to have a national health Insurance program.

Why excessive consumption? What causes humanity to act this way? When did it start? Why does it dominate the human race? What is our goal as a country? The group tackled these questions but found no easy answers. Easy credit prevails and with the constant advertising bombarding us, especially on TV, excessive, unnecessary wants are created. Status seeking may be a factor; the "keeping up with the Jones". A disconnect from where we started from; we have lost our way. Some, but not many are trying to put the brakes on a runaway train; the train is moving so fast no one can fathom what is happening.

Dishonesty in the media and all through the culture was blamed. There seems to be a lot of untruth and fabrication by the media and politicians. Not whether its honest-only if it works – in politics, in education, and in our social activities. The Media point of view is usually unopposed and never questioned. There is a herd mentality of our youth today as a consequence of the ills in our society.Final discussion gravitated to the present financial panic and where it will lead.

The Book Club's November read will be on November 26. The book chosen is, "Imagine What America could be in the 21st Century, "a book of essays edited by Marianne Williamson.