Just because Wall St. is doing better does not mean the consumer is doing better. Is the average person reinventing themselves? I would have to say that most are not thinking outside the box and looking for jobs out of their skill set. Or some are not taking lower pay and working menial jobs to make ends meet. Why give more breaks? I thought this was survival of the fittest. This may sound harsh but it is reality. If you are a homebuilder and you went bust are you trying another industry or trying to make it happen? If you are a stockbroker are you still trying to be in the game. Sometimes the best thing to do when bad things happens is to find a job you will really love to do. If your not going to get the money you once made you might as well be happy. Who knows maybe the new job will create an even larger income down the road.