there’s Bernie Madoff & his $50 billion Ponzii scheme, Rod Blagojevich allegedly auctioning Barack’s seat, & Sam Israel III, who hasn’t gotten as much ink—to name 3 solid citizens. I’m sure they’re the tip of the iceberg.

Corruption & greed are the oldest stories ever told, but in the last several years materialism has reached unprecedented heights. Middle-class folks were living like millionaires, & suddenly there were thousands of billionaires. Didn’t it seem too good to be true? As “The Real Housewives of OC” hobble along in their Louboutins, there’s a fall-of-Rome feeling in the air.