[Mihaly]

I agree it is much worse than is being presented in the media. Unfortunately, governments around the appear to be prescribing more poison (debt) for an extreme case of poisoning (excessive debt).

This is the same "medicine" that they have been using since 2001 trying to avoid a recession. This is the root cause of this problem, and has been responsible for every depression for 350 years (On average one every 70 years). In my experience the more governments interfere, the more things get screwed up. More recent examples of what happens when government print money are Argentina a few years back and Zimbabwe.

I don't believe that these packages will work, but will just delay a recovery. At some stage the money has to be paid back. In the meantime, it will shortly result in higher interest rates (and taxes). As previous poster stated, its probably not a good time to be owing money. On the other hand, if you are on a fixed interest rate, and you can remain in work a bout of hyperinflation may reduce the (relative) value of your debt.

The government here in Oz is even crafting its stimulus package to favour those people who might vote for it in the next election (next year)

Its all very sad, blame Greeenspan and Bernanke and Bush (for his defecit spending)

end of rant. I guess I needed to vent....Can we talk about music now?