Topic for Discussion: Why has the United States of America accomplished so much more in economic development in a few hundred years than countries with a civilization history of literally thousands of years?

Answer: Some would say it's the natural resources of our great nation, which are indeed plentiful. Others would credit "Yankee ingenuity" and we've certainly all seen many examples of that. Michael Novak makes the argument, powerfully, that it is our democratic capitalism that is the basis for our economic success. He calls the death of socialism the "most unreported fact in the 20th century."

J. C. Penney once said that everyone's life is a suitcase and our differences are related to what we pack in it. Our form of government, our society, our culture, all nurture the entrepreneurial spirit and foster an environment where each of us can live our dreams. America truly is the land of opportunity and our challenge is to take advantage of that opportunity.

You think about it: Where are the pockets of poverty in your community and what can you do to have a positive impact on them?