sign of the times

I heard something yesterday that I thought was hilarious, but really made me think:

I was at a family birthday party surrounded by little elementary-school aged cousins. My one little cousin then sees a really cool shiny, moving, animated, HUGE clam in my uncle's fish tank. My other little cousin (who "owns" the clam) is standing there with her looking at it. The first little cousin proceeds to say, "WOAH! That is so cool! Was that very expensive?"

My little cousin is in first grade. She must have heard her siblings and parents ask this question all the time. Is the economy really effecting the little ones, even though they might not realize what is going on and all of its implications? A very "make you think" moment.