What is this Wrong Path You Speak of?

I recently heard one of these right-wing zealots complaining about America going down the wrong path and how all our children will be ruined.
So I proceeded to look up some poll numbers and what have you, to get more clarity about this. What I found online was mostly Obama bashing brought forth by statistically insignificant Fox news polls. Usually a rampant fear of "progressive socialism". When I dug a bit deeper into what people really mean by this, I found it interesting that nobody is comparing this bogey man to Cuba or China, but call the evil plot "European style socialism".
How funny is that? It's like saying :"watch out or you will all become Canadian!" (As we all know Canadians have three heads and live in caves). I understand that the USA is a great economic force in the world--but do our financial markets really ensure the well-being of the average American Joe?
I wish the average Joes and Janes could all get a plane ticket to "this Europe" they fear so much for a few weeks. Travel the train system, eat at some cafes and talk to the locals about how "miserable" they are with socialized medicine and more government intervention.
Then Joe and Jane could more accurately discuss this big fear they have. Otherwise, it's like a small child's fear of Santa Claus. The big red suit scares them more than the positive idea of actually receiving a gift.

The Consumeristic Paradox

It keeps driving me nuts that nobody has a problem with the constant tirade of conflicting messages we get in this country when it comes to "consumer spending".
How many times during the Holiday season do we hear about making Christmas less materialistic and more about family, or heart, or whatever?? Yet in the mean time, the same media outlets show all sorts of consumer spending charts and diagrams complaining how retailers are suffering without increased spending?
Then there is the "get out of debt"or "get rid of your credit cards" banter...yet not a minute later, with a straight face, the news guy will turn around and discuss how consumers need to spend more-- to help the economy. Buy a new car, a new house, a new cell phone, just buy something already....!! How many times do we hear: "consumer confidence" is up or down.....?

People complain and complain about "kids today" caring only about designer clothes and money...but what do you think drives a capitalistic economy if it is not growing materialistic kids?
You just can't have it both ways folks. I guess nobody really wants a hippie economy based only on bartering their stuff on Freecycle--but what is the alternative? Building more and bigger houses, buying more cars, money-hungry children? Does economic growth also mean unquestionable greed growth?? What does the future hold for such a system?