The U.S. does not make enough actual good for foriegners with reserves to buy. Consumers are too indebted to borrow, with debt at 136% of income. Banks are too insolvent to lend, as they are 650 trillion invested in credit default swaps. Payroll employmnet is less than it was in 2001 after a decade of population growth. The U.s. economy would have to add 180,000 jobs a month to keep up with people entering the workforce be it through college graduates or 18 year olds entering the work force. As of 2/9/2012 70% of the federal budget goes to individual assistance programs. The U.S has more per capita debt than Greece, portugal, Ireland or spain. German banks are leveraged 32 to 1 Lehman was only 30 to 1. A one percent increase in the average interest rate would add $88 billion to the treasury's interest payment this year alone. This is not conspiracy it is math!