(This year we can't even afford music.)

Here's a sad-but-true reality check from the past month: as the economy appears ready to crash around us, holiday shoppers in New York crashed through the doors of Walmart and trampled to death a security guard. I hope the bargains they sought were worth it, because the price paid by the security guard's family was far more than anyone should have to bear.

As 2008 slithers away, I find it tough to offer the traditional holiday greeting this year. Economic reality is smacking us in the face and if you haven't had your financial cage rattled yet, just wait. All signs are that every American, in one way or another, will feel the effects of what is being called a global recession.

What exactly is a society built on capitalism and credit supposed to do? You know it's dire when the headlines tell us that even, uh, "ladies of the evening" are lowering their prices in response to competition and many mistresses should expect to find less under the tree because, if only one woman can be kept happy this holiday season, it will be she who can take her husband to court.

What's really mind boggling is the absurdity of it all. Reportedly, the mess was built on a desire by our government to put as many people in their own homes as possible, regardless of their ability to pay for them. Kind of like the American Dream on steroids. And when this "doomed from the beginning" scheme caught up with us, many of those who engineered it rushed to the scene of the crime with a bailout plan. It didn't matter that the plan was exactly opposite to the market system that runs this country or that most Americans expressed to their elected officials they were opposed to it-darn those torpedoes, full steam ahead.

Even if we're not quite sure where we are going.

The result so far? Even as consumers continue to stand in long lines to ensure a Wii or whatever else the most loved kids on the block must have for Christmas, now companies and whole industries (banking, automotive) stand in line hoping for a handout from good ol' Uncle Sam. Yet, while this historic investment of public money is designed to stimulate the economy, the word continues to spread that we should prepare for more bankruptcies, withering 401Ks, and higher unemployment.

For the average American-whatever that means-this latest crisis has forced us all to think long and hard about a number things: what we believe in, what-and whom-we can count on, and what really is important.

For example, we've learned a bit about insensitivity, as we watched AIG executives show gratitude for a taxpayer handout by using part of the money to attend a conference at a posh resort. We've watched one politician after another continue to abuse their powers, pad their own wallets, punt their responsibility, and provide for their family and friends through patronage jobs instead of showing real leadership and delivering fairness for all. Meanwhile, from all sectors of the citizenry, the cry goes out: Do whatever you must to pump up the economy. Just as long as you don't do it at my expense.

I don't doubt that we'll get through this. For some, it means nothing more painful than putting off the facelift for a few months, or opting for a VW instead of a BMW (at least there's a "W" in the name) until the stock market turns around again. For others, it will be a bit more stressful, possibly involving the loss of a home or a job, or putting on hold a child's education or some other long-dreamed-of endeavor.

So what holiday wish can I extend in such an unsettled time? I hope you and your family survive the worst of it. Even more, I hope we all finally learn from the adversity we face together. We learn to be a little more sharing and kind. We learn to thank people for favors given, great or small. We learn patience and empathy. We learn to appreciate others more and to extend simple courtesies, like answering the phone rather than routing everyone through a mechanical voice.

We learn to be human again rather than merely greed driven intelligent animals who place a higher premium on buying something at a discount than on the life of a security guard whose greatest Christmas wish probably was simply to be with his family.

Harvey Kart