The nation is buzzing about the Iowa caucuses, and talk radio listeners are very engaged as they tend to be more political and more involved than the general population. Part of being a candidate is talking about problems and offering solutions. But slur campaigns and dirty politics make it seem like there's so much negativity. One commentator recently wrote that 85 percent of all Americans are happy with their own lives, yet 75 percent are unhappy with the direction our country is heading.

But it's important to remember that we as a country as far wealthier today than just a generation ago. With so much talk about income inequality among the middle class, keep in mind that we're still far more affluent in terms of health, housing, creature comforts and more. For example, there are not nearly as many fires to fight because houses are built so much safer today. Ditto for highway design, air travel and automobile travel, which are all safer than ever. We live in a golden era and don't recognize it. That doesn't mean we don't have problems. There's a saying among journalists that goes, "If it bleeds, it leads." Bad news is what makes the news -- not good news. So the news we digest tends to make us more pessimistic than we should be. Yet the average American lives 25 percent longer than in the 1940s. In this political year, remember that our country is the most successful in the history of humanity. Free enterprise lets you take risks and potentially achieve great wealth for you and your family.

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As a counterpoint to the last story, Federal Reserve economists are predicting that housing values could fall 15 percent before the overall market returns to normal. Believe it or not, that's good news. Historically, people have paid marginally more to own vs. rent. Right now the costs to own vs. rent are very disproportionate. That's partly because the speculative trend and "Dare To Be Great" mindset fueled a lot of stupid investments. Now we have the largest number of vacant properties ever. The good news is that housing will once again become affordable to the average working family. It may take a 15 percent overall decline to get there, but it will happen. It's funny how all the press you read about the housing market says the sky is falling, but that's not really the whole picture. For people who are in their houses and have some equity, this is just a temporary bump in the road. And when those people eventually want to trade up in housing, their next property won't be so exorbitantly priced.

Clark's executive producer Christa recently gave him an article from Health magazine that spoke about how plastic water bottles can leach Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that's toxic in lab rats. So the inevitable question arises: Can it also harm us? Clark's not buying the leaching plastics theory, but he thinks you shouldn't drink bottled water because it will drain your wallet. Most bottled water comes from the tap, including Aquafina and Dasani. Just compare the numbers for yourself: Drinking tap water will cost you 40 cents/year vs. $1,500/year for bottled water, according to one study. Then there's the environmental angle: Between transportation, packaging and disposal, bottled water is an eco-disaster. If you're still reluctant to drink from the tap, try using an affordable filter. The Brita system was recently featured on NBC's The Biggest Loser -- a show that's watched by both Christa and Clark's other producer Kim.

Regular oil changes are a great way to ensure your car has a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, many people are susceptible to getting scammed during an oil change because they don't know much about their cars. The state of California has now reached a $5 million settlement with EZ Lube over such a scam. Customers would initially come in for a $25 oil change. But EZ Lube employees had quotas to meet and weren't allowed to let customers go until they billed them a minimum of $75 for unnecessary work.

Here's how to avoid becoming a victim: First, you need to know that most cars get major regularly scheduled maintenance every 15,000 miles. So when you bring your vehicle in for an oil change, just bunt when you're told you need some hardware or repair that completely baffles you. Pay for the oil change, make a note of what you're told you need and tell the person you'll get it fixed during your next major service checkup. Major service can be done either at a car dealership service center or at an independent shop that specializes in your brand of vehicle. Clark prefers the latter.