Aether:

“Ash,

I’d personally like to see the semi-Nationalized Indy, Freddy, Fannie, be allowed to go down the tubes, so Mr Market can do his Job properly. That said, to describe the US economy as “Ravaged” is simply Gramiscian propoganda (sic).”

It seems the consensus view, and more importantly, the view of Treasury and The Fed, is that to let them fail would be to seriously risk systemic failure. If this view is correct then it is accurate to say the US economy is indeed ravaged. These bailouts are probably not sufficient to prevent systemic failure. Liquidity is not Capital.

On a side note, you say you are invested in the US stock market, have you tried comparing the value of your holdings taking into account the US dollar decline? I don’t think you would like what you would see.

re: troop levels – Increasing troop levels would be mandatory if a third or fourth conflict were to be engaged in. That is a problem