US Government Shutdown

[GPSGuided]

I'd be pissed off too if I can't get on a hike after 9000 miles and a few thousand in airfares and accommodation.
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-new ... 2uykw.html

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

A much easier way of understanding it all.

[GPSGuided]

Lesson #3:

And another way to look at the Debt Ceiling:

When your can borrow money from your biggest strategic competitor (ie. China) with little collateral, to live a life of luxury, maintain a "War on Terror" and world domination, why say no? Cut down on the military adventures and buy fewer fighters and nuclear aircraft carriers and subs... Hell no!

This is MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) scenario of the financial kind.

[MartyGwynne]

Urrghhhh not sure but am in New York right now and the guy at the table next to us was very disillusioned to say the least about it. I think he worked for the gov in the area which was shut down.
My ex was not allowed to drive through Yosemite nat park due to it.
It may put a damper on our plans to visit lots of museums in the big apple!
Ps my daughter had a great wedding in Las Vegas (what a mad that is!)

[icefest]

A much easier way of understanding it all.

State economics when simplified to such an extent are not that useful nor accurate,
and that's ignoring the fact that that was started by the Tea Party (which have several bias).

Regarding lesson #1 Read these two blogs for another simplified but slightly more accurate interpretation.
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archiv ... implifying
http://www.dismalscientists.com/2012/01 ... begin.html

Then, realise that debt itself is not inherently bad.
Roughly speaking, if your tax base climbs faster than the debt interest then you are npt losing money.

Also, its actually 385, not 38.5 (8 zeros)

[GPSGuided]

At that level, there are so many different and conflicting economic theories that one can pick and choose to suit one's political agenda. Always justifiable or criticisable.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Seriously, has no-one on this thread got a sense of humour?

[Strider]

No

[GPSGuided]

No.

[icefest]

Sense?

[Strider]

I can sense humour, I just didn't find it particularly funny.

[perfectlydark]

Yeah ditto lol. Asmentiomed above simple analogies arent very apt in a complex situation like this

[GPSGuided]

Just read in the news that Obama did not attend the APEC Meeting in Bali because of the budget deadlock. US"s loss is not just financial. Which AP country wants to follow a country that can't even get their finances in order? So much for their "Back to Asia" strategy. Unity is strength, dis-unity crumbles. Dumb.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Well while the debt ceiling issue has been temporarily sorted, the Australian dollar seems to be continuing to improve because of the lingering uncertainty.

Which is good news for Australian hikers looking to buy gear from the USA (what the thread was actually about).

I can sense humour, I just didn't find it particularly funny.

Wow, another useful contributions to the site.

[GPSGuided]

Well while the debt ceiling issue has been temporarily sorted, the Australian dollar seems to be continuing to improve because of the lingering uncertainty.

Selfishly I love it! But Australian brick and mortar retailers are screaming hell again...

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

That is exactly how I feel too, GPSGuided.

Similar to how interest rates are at an all time low... Great for me, but terrible for retirees like my parents!

[perfectlydark]

Given we have debt tied up in $US, Im also loving it