There's some truth in that (creative destruction and all) but we've also seen an incredible concentration of wealth from about 1980 onward. Much of this has go

There's some truth in that (creative destruction and all) but we've also seen an incredible concentration of wealth from about 1980 onward. Much of this has gone to people working in just a few industries, such as finance and law. What we've seen is an expansion of the bottom and the top and a "hollowing out" at the middle. The system of private retirement accounts based on 401K and IRA accounts has largely failed. The largest asset that many in the baby boom generation will have in their retirement will be their Medicare benefits. The ultimate interpretation of the financial crisis is that the financial sector is currently unable to match capital with places where it can be invested properly. The power that this sector has over government and the culture of impunity surrounds it makes it possible that this situation will stretch on for another 10 to 30 years. Sure, failing industries in the recession are going to create a few opportunities for people to do amazing things in the next 10 years or so, but look for rapid advances in A.I. to essentially wipe out white collar work within 20 years.