I don't have the answers yet, but I have learned enough to be dangerous, and ask better questions..

I find it interesting that Congress has allowed an $800 billion increase in the total amount of debt we can carry as a nation.

That new level is $8.2 Trillion.

But hey, we need the money for the war. You didn't forget about the war, did you?

I hear everyone in the government is talking up a good game about a strong dollar.

Here's why:


This, by the way, is a new record low for the dollar.

And then the Republicans are saying that well, they really intend to decrease the amount of the annual overdraw of the US budget. That's the responsible thing to do.

Those of you with the odd money problem, like our government, go ahead and call those nice folks at the bank and let them know that you intend to continue to overdraw your account next year, but that they need not worry - it will be at a reduced rate.

The Republicans don't actually mean to bring down the debt, mind you.

Just decrease the rate of increase.

How's that for new math?? !!!**

Do you suppose Amex will let me run an overall higher debt, and just let me decrease the rate at which I increase my spending, while not paying off the tab?

Well, Jeez, it worked for the government....

And hey, we bought $500 billion more worth of the world's stuff than they bought of ours.

That's something.

So Greenspan, who has probably been shitting his drawers for years now, has been effectively silenced at this point, but he let it be known that Asia probably won't feel up to financing that decreased rate of increased debt spending (Is that enough governmentspeak for ya?) because the dollar is weak.

To which the average American yawned, scratched their ass, and responded, huh? Whass 'at mean?

It means that the financiers of American debt are a little reluctant right now to open their pockets further. Seems our ability to pay might be in question.

Kind of like mine with Amex.

So that administration went into denial and said (with a straight face), well none of this has anything to do with anything. The price of the dollar is all set by markets.

To which the world traders in currency responded by dumping the dollar at record levels.

Boy, they sure did set the price!

So now that Japanese car or German appliance or Arab oil you wanted to buy, well, it just got a little more expensive.

Doncha' jus luv Republican financing? Gosh, I sure do....