It is my opinion that as an economy, we have already gone over the cliff. The debt has quadrupled in the last three years, is unsustainable ($53,000,000,000,000+), and is to great to ever pay off at present money value. Leading economic indicators are turning down, the manufacturing index is down, various Fed surveys show a downturn, and all this after stimulus, QEI and QEII. Our government and the Federal reserve is destroying capital that would be necessary to begin a recovery and jobs. Unemployment is getting worse. The O. brags about how many government sector jobs he has created, but how many more private sector jobs has he cost? We are heading back into the recession that we never left just like we did last summer after QEI ended, even before QEII is officially over. Then, the Bernank announced QEII at Jackson Hole and the money pumping caused inflation in the things that we buy as well as in the stock market. Now, as always, it is wearing off. As things deteriorate further, at some point we will see QEIII under a new name and that will be the beginning of the end as more capital will be destroyed and the dollar deterioration becomes exponential. Civil unrest will be seen as it is already apparent in Greece and other countries.
Historically, when leaders have faced such odds they have gotten into wars to take the peoples mind off internal problems and garner support for their power. Their lies and excuses are believed and it is always blamed on some other country (maybe China), rather than admitting their own failure. My point is, in the next election, it is important to elect a president that would adhere to the Constitution, is honest, and would refrain from all wars that are not otherwise provoked by an outright attack. I can think of only one man that stands far above the others in this regard. Otherwise you may see your children or grandchildren in involuntary servitude (slavery) serving older men who direct their activity to kill or be killed while never risking their own lives, all for political ends. Gary