2012
Did anyone see "2012"? The opening scenes show tea-party-like protests against the national debt in the background. A minute later there's a scene where a rich person is offered something they want and told it costs "a billion". They seem relieved until told it's a billion EUROs, not dollars. Ouch, a billion in REAL money.
This wasn't the theme of the movie and it isn't mentioned again, but suddenly this week-end's debate on lifting the national debt ceiling by an unconscionable $1.9 Trillion makes more sense. If you've been told of a creditable threat that is probably going to destroy your country in the next few years, why not blow your budget? I mean, seriously, why NOT?
It all sort of makes sense now.