The global economic system is an interesting game in that each team has written its own rule book specifying how it will play. For many years, there were certain barriers set up by the different teams so that the rules never had to be fully weighed against each other. Now that globalism is truly here, the field is flat and the various rules can be fully tested. Seen in that light, it is pretty apparent that the US economy, which is shedding both blood and assets, is losing the game. And, it is losing to teams which have vastly different views of the meaning of Capitalism, or which choose to eschew it completely. One is sorely tempted to conclude that the possible meaning of this is that the rules, as we have created and followed them, are not appropriate to winning the game. But, I'm not to say that, am I? It might break the spell.

Phil,

The spell's already broken. Many, however, wish for the enchantemnt to remain.