The Unintended Consequences of Debt Ceiling Intransigence: Paul Craig Roberts

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28684.htm

While this is a bit self-serving, PCR goes into some interesting US economic history here.

There are two parts and it's just too long to post in full.  He is not as astute as Michael Hudson by a long shot, but he does get the bigger picture -- the United States is in the end stages of the ponzi scheme.  You'll learn a couple of things ..