I would only qualify that by saying you can't prove anything by negative association. There were no attacks before 9/11 either for ten years. The economy is doing good? I'm confused; whats the average rate of return on equity investments for the past five years? The average wage has decreased in real terms. My state and local taxes have risen dramatically; almost doubling in the past 6 years because of the Federal Govts reducing the tax allocation for the states and education. Don't have to mention energy prices. The charade of wealth due to the increase in real estate valuation will fade as the inflation is whipped into the economic stew over the next few yrs. Lots more where this came from. How many high paying jobs in the last 6 yrs have been lost to low wage service sector jobs? You may be doing well and I certainly hope that is true; but many are not.