Austerity slipknots to throats, most governments will have to jump. But who will survive?

[Poll_Blind]

The short list of those in serious trouble right now appear to be Greece, Italy, Japan, Ireland and Portugal. The following I don't know the state of these but at least according to WikiPedia they also have austerity programs in place or are being put in place: Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the UK. I've been reading more and more articles on DU about the UK's austerity cuts and they seem pretty severe.

Oh, and the United States. Sort of. I don't know if we're going through an austerity program or if it's an attack by the Right on social programs and public schools labeled as one.

Reality has caught up with all of those countries listed above but while things are bad here it seems as though we're maybe pretending this "reset" doesn't have to happen for us. Certainly our military spending seems wildly out of control, as usual. The Fed is purchasing $600 Billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. That doesn't strike me as "going into rehab" yet.

When do we get notified it's our turn at the gallows or will that only happen after the floor's dropped out? Yes, it can drop out more than it has.

PB

[LeftishBrit]

1. As regards the UK...

while it's true that we are embroiled in the global financial crisis, and that there would have been cuts under any government, the EXTENT and SPEED of the cuts are much greater than necessary, because we 'elected' a government with a fanatical ideology. The combination of George Osborne's Thatcherite 'cut-everything-that-moves' agenda with Ian Duncan-Smith's neo-Victorian British-version-of-Christian-Right 'it-is-really-good-for-the-poor-to-punish-them-for-their-poverty' agenda is pretty ugly.

I put 'elected' in quotes, because only 36% of people voted for the Tories, and many of those who did probably didn't expect this degree of ideological fanaticism (not made obvious before the election). And few people who voted LibDem expected Clegg's total cave-in to the Tories(hence a reduction in LibDem voting intentions from 28% at the election to 10% in latest polls!) And obviously Labour voters didn't want this.

There is no reason why you *should* follow in our footsteps; but with a Republican House of Representatives, and a bunch of teabaggers in the wings, you may end up doing so. Just try not to, is my advice!

[Vincardog]

2. We get notified that is is our turn after the rich have stripped everyone else of their money

Those 'other' countries have not had 'Reality' catch up with them.

Thy have had the financial parasites target them.

The parasites will continue short selling and naked STEALING as long as they are permitted.

WHERE THE FUCK IS THE LEADERSHIP?

[Poboy]

3. Having lunch with our oppressors, would be my guess.

[Mojorabbit]

4. I am worried about collapse part 2. nt