Is it really that bad

Are you really saving for your retirement?  The Political Systems in the World are not looking so good. Europe cannot get a foot hold on its economic problems.  The United States is at a loss for another technique which will effectively 'Boost' the economy out of recession.  France and Germany are working toward a Union of European Political and Monetary agreement which will effectively congeal the Governments into one single entity.  Historically this has happened before.  With modern communications we now see it happening.