[lateStarter]

Ok, a bit early, but 'welcome' nonetheless. Give me your best story/allegory describing where we are now and what we are facing. Since this is predominately a US-centric site, I have couched mine in that setting (altough most western-world countries can probably identify)... For those concerned with GW, my apologies.

My version:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he 550HP, 6.0L vehicle is still tooling down the road at a good clip. The on-board navigation system has the course to Wall-mart mapped out. All of the personal entertainment systems are engaged. Nobody on-board is talking to each other, although they are all talking to someone. Dad, at the wheel, is chatting with his ‘secretary’ back at the office; Mom, is making an appointment with her ‘personal’ trainer. Junior is setting up the online matches for later this evening, and ‘Sis’ is discussing flying out to Pittsburgh to meet some guy she met online.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the left front wheel has already come off a few miles back. This would be the virtual ATM, otherwise known as the real-estate market. Meanwhile, the right front wheel (the Credit Card reshuffle) has lost all of the securing nuts, but is still in place. All of the nuts on the back left wheel (core inflation – real cost of essential foodstuffs) are loosened but still on. The back right tire (price of oil) is ready to blow.

The spare tire (sound fiscal policy management) is flat.

What happens next?