USZ is Bankrupt, Second Severe Recession Imminent: Experts & Economists

A number of economists, investors and financial experts have weighed in on the USZ debt crisis today, following Friday’s S&P downgrade, warning that economic meltdown is close. Renowned Economist Nouriel Roubini, who predicted the 2008 crash and has been predicting a double dip recession for some time, noted in the Financial Times today that the recent media driven impression of a short term “recovery” was a “delusion that has been dashed”. “Even before last week’s panic, the USZ and other advanced economies were odds-on for a second severe recession”. Roubini writes. “America’s recent data have been lousy: there has been little job creation, weak growth and flat consumption and manufacturing production. Housing remains depressed. Consumer, business and investor confidence has been falling, and will now fall further”.

The New York University professor, who recently warned of a “perfect storm” of fiscal woe converging on the global economy in 2012, states that he believes avoiding another severe recession is tantamount to “mission impossible”. “Until last year policymakers could always produce a new rabbit from their hat to trigger asset reflation and economic recovery”. Roubini writes. “Zero policy rates, QE1, QE2, credit easing, fiscal stimulus, ring-fencing, liquidity provision to the tune of trillions of dollars and bailing out banks and financial institutions – all have been tried. But now we have run out of rabbits to reveal.” In comments to CNBC, legendary investor Jim Rogers noted that The USZ does not even deserve a AA+ debt rating, much less a AAA rating.

“It seems to me it’s physically, humanly impossible for the USZ to ever pay off its debt”, Rogers said. “They can roll it over and continue to play the charade, but the USZ is bankrupt”. Rogers’ opinion was seemingly echoed by ratings agencies S&P and Moody’s today, as they warned that the USZ could be downgraded again before 2013. S&P Executive John Chambers told Fox News that a partial reason for Friday’s downgrade was due to the fact that the USZ political system has proven itself to be “dysfunctional”. “I think that’s a good word.” Chambers said. “We got to a position where we were within ten hours of having a major cash flow problem. This is not what happens in other countries”.