The Roof is Shiny, But the Foundation is Shot

The American roof is gold-plated, so it reflects the heat of the sun, which gets hotter every year, but the people who live just beneath it in the attic do not notice this. Their shiny roof provides good protection, they think. The attic people look out of the windows and see nothing but clear skies and rainbows. The floors are made of cool Italian marble, and the furnishings are the finest in the world. Only a few people live there, and they are content.

The floor beneath the attic appears to have solid beams, somewhat worn with time and a bit out of…