When you put it that way...

This astonishing post from the Brainstorm 2006 Conference just concluded in Aspen:

The USA: future deadbeat

In this morning's breakfast discussion on U.S. indebtedness (where economist David Li also made some interesting remarks), former Goldman Sachs Asia vice chairman Kenneth Courtis offered this rhetorical question:

"When the current administration leaves office, the U.S. will have an external debt of $6.5 trillion," Courtis said. "Is anyone in this room naive enough to believe the U.S. will ever pay that back?"

No one spoke up.

Also some great remarks from Sen. John McCain.