We're on the brink of a world in which the wealthiest nations, from Canada to Norway to Japan, can barely project meaningful force to their own borders while the nickel 'n' dime basket-cases go nuclear.

Question: How much do you have to invest in the future before you've spent it and no longer have one?

The president has borrowed more money to spend to less effect than anybody on the planet.

Those who can do. Those who can't form a supercommittee.