19 Comments
User's avatar
Zoe's avatar

I previously thought the US governmental system had many advantages. I no longer think this : Elections and governmental corrections take too long. If only the entire world didn’t get harmed by the votes of 77 million Americans.

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

It’s messy, no doubt... but the danger isn’t slow systems… it’s when trust in them breaks.

Eddie's avatar

Heather Cox Richardson ---"Trump’s niece, psychologist Mary Trump, posted: 'The Democrats just flipped a state house seat in the district where Donald committed voter fraud by casting his ballot illegally by mail.” Details, details Donnie. Jared's deals with MoreBS &BB NOT gonna go as Commander Bonespurs fantacizes‼️

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

That’s a lot of noise Eddie… I stick to what actually moves money and outcomes.

Kalyrn's avatar

Yet another confession by agent orange.

Ron Murphy's avatar

Countries holding American debt should begin, slowly, to sell off their holdings. Not rapidly, just slowly, to demonstrate to the US that to continue on its present path, will be economic suicide. Once the US realizes its vulnerability (if it is even capable of that) and begins to act in a responsible manner, the sell off can stop. If not, so be it, maybe we need a new sheriff in town.

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

That kind of move cuts both ways... it pressures the U.S., but it also rattles the entire global system.

Carol-Ann Lamothe's avatar

Thanks, Fred, for clarifying it.

Kalyrn's avatar

They don’t even need to sell, just stop buying any new debt. That alone would be a huge problem for this administration.

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

Even that’s a slow squeeze... but when demand fades, borrowing just gets more expensive… and that’s where it bites.

Carol-Ann Lamothe's avatar

They could use this as their ability to control what is going on. That is leverage they should use.

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

It is leverage... but using it too hard risks breaking the system everyone’s tied into.

Jim Veinot's avatar

As I've suggested previously, the U.S. is technically insolvent. The U.S. cannot generate sufficient revenue to pay its expenses, so it borrows against its only collateral which is its reputation. When it does its best to tarnish that, folks recall their loans. Increasing rate will amplify the "greed vs fear" response for a while. The road to bankruptcy is paved with bad decisions. One of them was allowing the wealth of the nation to end up in the hands of billionaires. (as a bean-counter I have a very narrow perspective, I'm told!)

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

You’re not wrong on the dependence on borrowing Jim... I’d call it less ‘insolvent’ and more ‘confidence-funded’… and that only works while trust holds.

Hans Boserup, Dr.jur. 🇩🇰's avatar

Fred — strong point on credibility, but this isn’t panic, it’s friction.

The Court stepping in is the system working, not breaking.

The real issue isn’t $134bn — it’s policy volatility creeping into pricing.

Investors won’t flee; they’ll adjust. Slowly, then structurally.

That’s how credibility erodes — not in shocks, but in accumulation.

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

Fair point Hans... the system is working… but when volatility starts getting priced in, that’s where credibility quietly erodes.

Lb 🇨🇦's avatar

And again nothing will happen

Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)'s avatar

Maybe not immediately… but these things tend to build quietly before they show up all at once.

Eddie's avatar