Anyone who thinks “scarcity” is good for people’s moods should remember Christmas “doorbusters.” The cash register line is long, there are only a few items left, and one is waiting way back to the women’s clothing department. Everyone is grumbling. But such scenes are all the past?

Scarcity creates problems in society and accounts for unusual malice directed toward Barack Obama’s young presidency. With high unemployment, we feel that there is not enough of life’s bounty to go around. We become anxious about neighbors, even suspicious.

Are they going to get more than their share? Will they receive more than us? We count every benefit and jealously guard how it is distributed. We do not think of sharing or allowing others to go first. The bleaker the times, the more we are psychologically on edge, the more we want to blame, designate scapegoats, and point fingers at the powers-that-be.

We become proudly heartless. Any gain should be ours. We tell ourselves that anyone would act the same way. There is no harm done. We tout conservatism, any philosophy justifying our desire to cut benefits. Oddly, when many people have the least, we opt most to pare the budget. And we certainly do not want to borrow money for others. We are fighting for our portion. We do not intend to give gifts to others or to share. It is a callous world.

A mean feeling reels across culture. We cannot trust our neighbors and certainly not our politicians. A radical element enters society. We begin to express deep malice toward our best leaders. We give them all the responsibility for the faltering economy, but we do not recognize their true legitimacy. We forget the power of the vote. We underestimate our democracy.

Soon, the ill feeling we have for public servants is not enough either. A few people are to blame as well. We set them aside and save curses for them. They have “ruined” the country, set it to socialism. In times of scarcity, leftist scapegoats are plenty.

Obama’s administration needs to work for a return of a feeling of abundance. Its focus should be on creating jobs. It must give people the impression that there is enough benefit to go around. It must stop people from clawing for the last item. When people perceive abundance, civility will return to society.

While I still believe that people are innately generous and even good, I do think that people are better when they are not keeping an eye out for their due allotments. I think people can live as good neighbors when times are good.

Give our college students meaningful internships. Grant tuition breaks to students who settle with in-demand professions like school teaching. Set up widespread apprentice programs. Encourage university students to seek extensive job counseling early in their programs.

Fulfill a campaign promise and put America on track as far as green jobs and a work force. Offer hefty incentives and tax breaks to companies that keep big production plants at home. A sense of abundance will improve America’s outlook for the coming years.

Kristine Kaiser lives in Kernersville.