Yes. The U.S. has already slipped into third world status, but the numbers are fudged to make it seem otherwise. Americans have been trained to focus on 2 numbers (the Dow Jones Industrial Avg and unemployment) as the only numbers that bear watching when it comes to judging the economic health of the country. But there are hundreds of indices that track financial activity, and in the U.S., all those indices are sloping downwards.

I believe that if and when a sudden financial crash is needed, it will come from toppling the derivatives market. Derivatives are like the "marginal" stock market trading practices of 1929. People borrowing paper with paper as collateral.

Derivatives have formed a huge bubble of debt that would eradicate the middle class if it is exploded. Pretty much all savings and pensions would disappear (they're invested in derivatives).

If you have any sense, put your money into something of true value now. Buy land, gold, guns, food. Prepare to defend those assets against people who didn't think ahead.

And when the rebellion comes, don't turn to the Clinton/Bush people who created the crisis. They'll try to re-establish control, but when they fail they'll go to their South Sea island compounds and leave us to fight it out among ourselves and the foreign troops sent in to subdue us.

For you women out there, I recommend a Savage .243 with detachable magazine. Doesn't kick much and with the right scope you can take out ChiComs at 300 yards easy. One shot (always shoot the squad leader), then get in your soccer mom SUV for the getaway.