What happened to America’s ego?

Listen to Dave’s commentary: What happened to America’s ego?

It’s bad enough that we can barely keep our government solvent; that we have to worry whether the Chinese will downgrade our bonds, that the Federal Aviation Administration is closed down, that we now have to pay the Russians to get us to the Space station.

But then to have to hear this:

“In the race among oil rich countries to have a world recognized status symbols Saudi Arabia today awarded a $1 million contract for the construction of what it hopes will be the world’s tallest building.”

CBS’s Toula Vlahou reporting that…while we sweat every stock market gyration, Saudi Arabia is preparing to build a skyscraper ONE KILOMETER high.

Saudi Arabia has so much money — collected from you and me and every other American motorist — that it’s signed a contract with the Saudi Binladen construction company — naturally — to build a skyscraper that will be about twice as tall as New York’s new Freedom Tower.

It’s shaped like a giant glass spike with a Jetsons style saucer hanging from the 157th floor, about halfway up.

The building itself can’t possibly pay off. The enormous Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is currently the tallest building is still 90% empty.

But this isn’t about economics; this is EGO:

“Described as a message of strength by the billionaire prince of Saudi Arabia, the tower is expected to take three years to complete.”

A message of strength. From a country where women are still forbidden to drive.

At least its being designed by a Chicago architect. But how can this be happening? Where’s America’s ego? Oh that’s right, we can’t afford it any more. We only have ego visitation rights now — provided we can hitch a ride with the Russians.