I think it’s the result of many elements. The banks lending crazy subprime mortgages (ruining US economy), then creating these CDOs and selling them to overseas investors (ruining international economy). THEN, when all that crap fell apart, the Bush administration proposed that we bail the banks out after making their catastrophic business decisions. This was followed by the bailouts being supported and passed by Congress (including Obama, emphatically). Now, we have that same Obama in office with financial advisers encouraging his bad decisions. I.E. The banks broke us, the Bush admin. rewarded them for it, and the Obama admin is continuing and prolonging the pain. But maybe it’s our (the public) fault for allowing this behavior and electing such jerks into office. This is the greatest thing I’ve ever read.