Considering their actual financial situation , and also what you stated in your post about their official debt being a fraction of the reality , plus their socio-political objectives and their military ambitions and involvment , it also seems inevitable that the government wether next year or in five years from now be it the democrats or the republicans will be forced to hike taxes at all levels and impose an incredible burden on their enterprises and taxpayers .

Dr. Doom does'nt seem so far from reality, the actual crisis seems to mark the beginning of the end of this Champion of Democracy and it's probably just a matter of time before some of the largest US corporation leave the country and establish themselves elsewhere in some tax haven country . Or maybe in the antartic or up north fleeing away from their social obligations and probably from eventual bankruptcy under the burden of outstanding corporate taxes .

Since the end of last year many commentators warned against investing in the US in the actual conditions , in fear the greenback would be crushed by the humoungous debt being accumulated and also in fear of the changing laws that will affect their companies retroactively as was the case with the banks recently .

Following some of the most active hubs here it's obvious the american people are mad at their governments , both the actual one and the previous one and probably also at many of those that were in power over the last thirty years or so, that built such an incredible debt at all levels including states and cities . They're also outraged at their corporate leaders that act so selfishly and irresponsably even as they're being bailed out from taxpayer money .

Somehow we get the feeling we're in rome at the time of Cicero except this time the corporations have set the country on fire , the scary part will come years from now when social disruption will give birth to violence in a country where there are so many more weapons in the streets and homes then there are people .

Will the US become then another military or police state like we saw in so many countries over the last 50 years ? Or will it turn into a civilian dictatureship ? Who knows ? In any case the US is not a safehaven for money anymore and it will become obvious when the US dollar feels the earthquake that's building up under it's feet , then the flight of investors in total panic will make last fall seem like a walk in the park , and those who invested in gold in the perspective of just such an event will be laughing all the way to the bank just like that investor after Madof was found guilty .

Our luck i think , if any of us are brave enough to be invested in the US , is the fact that , that day won' t happen yet for a year or two .

Cheer the week end is not over yet and the US markets being open tomorow u still have time to divest unless you still want to gamble with your money .

Tectol