...only an engineered recession (Score 1)

Hmmm - Since December eh??? Suspiciously around the same time the Federal Reserve started reducing the amount of money in circulation. Just look at the price of anything of value in comparison to the US Dollar (real estate, gold, oil) and then follow what the Federal Reserve has done. They've reduced interest rates spurring people and businesses to borrow money, but reduced the amount of money in circulation so that there isn't as much money around - so it is impossible for the money to ever get paid back. This is an engineered recession, not a real one - unless people do what the central banks want you to do - sell what you have of value to pay for your debts, or better yet borrow more to pay for your debts, and then they'll increase the money supply. Anybody left holding anything of value will get richer, those that sold everything just to live, get poorer.