I think americans (and brazillians - I am one) are going same way you mention in the end of the article - building economic sand castles.
Due to the good results in world and domestic ecnomic development, most people (in middle-class) are going crazy spending money. In order to buy houses or cars, people here will willingly enter 80-month mortages or leasings, effectively paying double the price because of hight interest rates.
I wonder when the "credit bubble" will burst around here.
[quote]2) Recite the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear*[/quote]
Hehehe, and here I thought I was the only one to have actually done this on occasion. Though, right now (being the LOTR fan I am) I'm more on the Namarië myself...