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The industry is a blood sucking zombie. Don't foregt the 23 TRILLION in debts the US is on the hook for. You think those guarantees may have something to do with the financial industry still being around today, paying huge bonuses? Sorry, I'm still not shedding any tears for Wall Street.

France and Germany don't exactly have clean hands here. http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2010/02/weaker-eurozone-manufacturers-losing-competitiveness.html So the Germans and the Benelux nations have an enormous eurozone internal market surplus. Yes, German or Dutch workers are still more...

I agree. But once the government bails an industry or company out? Guess what? Now you're the government's BITCH. No industry should be able to cry to the gov't for aid and backstops, and then expect laissez faire capitalism after a bailout. You can't have it both ways.

As a recipient of almost $50 billion in U.S. government aid, GM is subject to caps on executive compensation. Whitacre is now paid $350,000 as GM chairman and a member of the board. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60O38E20100125 Can Lloyd or Jamie or Mack live on $350K? How much of...

When was the last time the US Treasury or the Federal Reserve bailed out a Hollywood studio for the losses it incurred from a major film flop? Your comparison is ridiculous.

MartinG - I agree about the deficit spending - it is primarily a fiscal issue not monetary, meaning it's the legislature and executive branches responsibility. As for the source of the rat stench - don't forget, the Fed has regulatory powers as well - powers that it ignored for the benefit of...

MartinG - you are correct, and yes, many here are misinformed about the Fed. However, their concerns are not baseless. I believe you are being disingenious by stating traditional Fed operations without mentioning the recent extraordinary Fed actions. Didn't more then just the...

When I was 17, I bench pressed 275... but I was young and that's what you did. But I agree, it's overrated and dangerous. I have a brother and when he was young he could squat well over 600lbs. He liked the clanking sound all those plates made and the attention, I guess. His knees are...

This article is misleading. The debts of sovereigns, especially those that control their own currency, do not have to be paid off all at once - ever. The real issue is can a government continue to service its debt? That is, rollover the debt as it comes due and pay the interest? That's...

I'm Gen X, what do you expect? :p

To those that are critical of today's youth: The youth today are a mere product of the environment that was created by their parents and prior generations. It's easy to beat up on them in lieu of facing your own shortcomings and irresponsible stewardship of our society. I'm sure it helps...

Antitrust - I share your disdain for the Fed. But the system is what it is. If we were to bypass the Fed and credit system and create money at free will, that would have long range consequences to international markets, the sovereign bond markets, and international trade. All the...

I disagree. More and more US car factories have gone to Mexico, whereas more and more Japanese manufacturers have come here. Either way, those regs apply the same for the US market.

Good stats, thanks Now obviously, the interest rate payments to service that debt as a percentage of tax revenues would grow disproportionately higher than tax revenues grow. Does anyone have those figures? In my view, that's where ultimately, TSHTF.

Yes, there is a difference. Dollar bills are but a tiny fraction of money, and even they are Fed Reserve "Notes" For a country to start printing money outside of the credit system to just pay off debt would crash the system, in my opinion. You Know why? Because EVERYONE will start doing...

Don't forget, ours is a debt based system, i.e. money is lent into existence. That's the system, and unless there is a radical change, that is what will likely continue. Yes, money is created in the private sector - but again thru debt creation - fractional reserve lending. My old...

From Wiki: Monetizing debt In the United States, and in many other countries, the government does not have the power to issue new currency to pay its bills[citation needed] – it must instead finance the deficit by issuing new bonds and selling them to the public to acquire the necessary...

The last time we had a bout of inflation, we took care of it by 1) raising interest rates rather steeply and, 2)accelerated the process of offshoring and outsourcing (cheaper goods from abroad shifted the effects of inflation from goods to assets). Today, not much left to offshore and...

I agree, but didn't Clinton also use Social Security to balance the budget?

I agree - gov't policy manipulates asset valuations. Now the question is... will our Central Bank kill the economy or the currency? My view? Long term, dollar is toast. Most currencies are toast. Looking back now, I don't know how society ever thought that fiat currency could ever be...