Buddy, can you spare a dime.

The administration has been wheeling out George W. Bush the last couple of days to tout the strength of the US economy. At least they say it's Bush. I personally think it may be some kind of Max Headroom/Meet Mr. Lincoln video enhanced robot.

He says that the US can handle the current market volatility. He says that the US economy is the envy of the World. He says that inflation is under control. He says we should lower corporate taxes and leave corporate CEO and big player compensation alone. What a maroon.

The US doesn't produce anything. Home ownership is beyond the reach of the working family. Those that do own homes have been leveraging them for years to finance a lifestyle they can't afford. We import most of our fuel, durable goods, consumables and even an increasing percentage of food stuffs from foreign markets. The top 1% of the population controls all of the countrie's wealth and resources. The rest of us actually owe more than we're worth. Most people have virtually nothing put away for retirement and expect that the Government will take care of them.

The dollar, increasingly, is worth garbage opposed to foreign currencies. Market strategists continue to expect strong consumer spending, even in the face of evidence that the American consumer is tapped out. The American consumer will continue to spend, as long as credit is extended and payment is delayed.

The mortgage market is in shambles. Credit card debt will be next. Consumer spending will follow. The American economy is not the envy of the World.

Hey, don't you remember, they called me Al. It was Al, all the time. Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal. Buddy can you spare a dime.