Actually, the truth of the matter is other countries finance US debt and would themselves be richer if they simply stopped buying US treasuries or pegging their currencies to the USD. This in turn would force domestic interest rates across the board to increase and as a result, Americans would have to cut consumption and save substantially more than they do now. And in the long-run this could make the US as a whole, rich again (or at least not broke). Right now consumption is being funded by artificially cheap credit which is financed in large part by foreign banks, sovereign wealth funds and the FOMC. Still the same, a provocative illustration, especially when one realizes that three decades ago, the US was the largest creditor nation and today is the largest debtor nation. Quite a swing. And for those that are interested, the flags on the sleeve represent Japan, the PRC and Russia, who currently hold more than $1.1 trillion of US treasury securities. Be sure to thank them for buying toxic paper, like MBSs from FRE and FNM, to prop up your home equity. ...
Anytime
Actually, the truth of the matter is other countries finance US debt and would themselves be richer if they simply stopped buying US treasuries or pegging their currencies to the USD. This in turn would force domestic interest rates across the board to increase and as a result, Americans would have to cut consumption and save substantially more than they do now. And in the long-run this could make the US as a whole, rich again (or at least not broke). Right now consumption is being funded by artificially cheap credit which is financed in large part by foreign banks, sovereign wealth funds and the FOMC. Still the same, a provocative illustration, especially when one realizes that three decades ago, the US was the largest creditor nation and today is the largest debtor nation. Quite a swing. And for those that are interested, the flags on the sleeve represent Japan, the PRC and Russia, who currently hold more than $1.1 trillion of US treasury securities. Be sure to thank them for buying toxic paper, like MBSs from FRE and FNM, to prop up your home equity. ...