Quote Originally Posted by Xiahou
Meh. I attribute it more to dumb buyers and even dumber lenders.

How much of our current inflation can be attributed to energy prices and our corn ethanol boondoggle?
I wouldn't say dumber lenders, but greedy lenders backed by dumber bond insurers and purchasers. Short-term, it was a great money maker, but like all bubbles, they have to burst.

Huge consumer debt, depressed housing market, rising energy and food prices, decreasing dollar, war expenditures, financially stretched local and state governments, and baby boomers retiring and getting old (i.e. sick). It's going to be ugly for at least a few years. Feel free to tack on more depressing indicators...