Strangely, the three folks here at Spitting Llamas are this week a veritable microscosm of life in the U.S. For whatever reason, we have become a living commentary on the state of the union.

Cosbysweater is out in Las Vegas sowing some wild oats. He’s been living the high roller lifestyle amidst splendor and bared breasts. The opulence of his surroundings is matched only by the hedonistic pleasures hidden in every corner of that fabulous city. His trip represents all that is good and right with America.

Jetteva is starting his new job today, after being laid off. His employment drama is indicative of our economy’s sad state of affairs. Like many in this country, he is struggling against the undertow of inflationary prices amidst war fears. Job security is not only nonexistent, but seemingly not even something that employers strive for any more. With consumer spending hitting all-time lows, mortgage rates and other interest rates falling steadily, what can be done to keep folks like Jetteva from bouncing job to job?

While those two langour at the extremes of the American experience, I sit entrenched in middle class warfare. A fairly steady, but unfulfilling, and underpaying job bouys my purchase-oriented lifestyle just enough. Meanwhile, I am doubling my depression medication and fretting over the lack of spirituality in my life. I suppose I am the epitome of the middle class warrior who is trampled under the foot of the upper crust, but keeps the service class alive with unbounded spending.

We are not always in these roles. We probably move from day to day, but we are here and now a rather pure example of what Bush would seem to think is an OK state of the union.