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Moody's warns nations to cut spending or risk AAA ratings
Washington Post ^ | March 16, 2010 | Howard Schneider

Posted on 03/15/2010 9:47:27 PM PDT by americanophile

The United States and other top world economies need to make potentially painful government spending cuts or risk losing the high-grade credit ratings that have kept borrowing affordable, the Moody's rating agency said Monday.

Outlining the dilemma faced by policymakers in the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France, Moody's said that debt levels in the four large credit-worthy economies had reached the point at which they are at risk of being downgraded -- a step that would drive up interest rates, increase borrowing costs and mark a turn in perceptions about the world economy.

Economic recovery might ease the problem by increasing tax revenue, Moody's reported, but "growth alone will not resolve an increasingly complicated debt equation. Preserving debt affordability at levels consistent with AAA ratings will invariably require fiscal adjustments of a magnitude that, in some cases, will test social cohesion."

The dollar rose against major currencies despite the report, a reminder of its continued role as the world's reserve currency.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: creditrating
Something wicked...
1 posted on 03/15/2010 9:47:27 PM PDT by americanophile
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To: americanophile
Is this the same Moody's who told everyone that sub-prime debt was AAA safe? Screw them...
2 posted on 03/15/2010 9:49:44 PM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
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To: americanophile
The last time Moody's issued this warning, a reporter asked an underling of Geithner what he thought of the warning. I wished I could remember his name, but he said, "That's absurd. The United States is not going to go bankrupt."

They don't hear the people, they don't hear the question, they don't hear much of anything. That rumbling you hear approaching DC today -- that's not a train!

3 posted on 03/15/2010 9:50:05 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: April Lexington

...were all screwed on this one.


4 posted on 03/15/2010 9:50:19 PM PDT by americanophile
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To: americanophile

Get your debt now. Inflation will be out of control.


5 posted on 03/15/2010 9:51:49 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: americanophile

Something wicked the US sent to itself.


6 posted on 03/15/2010 10:06:34 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: americanophile

“make potentially painful government spending cuts”

It’s like telling the dope fiend who just found a couple bricks of junk that they need to cut down. ; [


7 posted on 03/15/2010 10:07:20 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32)
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To: April Lexington

Hey, I suppose the money presses can always roll.


8 posted on 03/15/2010 10:07:30 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: americanophile

Oh yeah?

Well we’ll just pass a law saying you can’t do that Moody. :)

-liberal response


9 posted on 03/15/2010 10:12:20 PM PDT by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: americanophile

Rating agencies try to warn the politicians who have literally spent trillions staying elected and insulating power?

Good luck w/ that.


10 posted on 03/15/2010 10:15:56 PM PDT by wac3rd (Felipe Calderon supports the public option.)
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To: americanophile

0bummerCare will cut spending!

< / sarc >


11 posted on 03/15/2010 10:17:30 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Democrats prioritize Death over Enslavement!)
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To: americanophile

not that i disagree with them but....does anyone listen to moodys any more?


12 posted on 03/15/2010 10:44:55 PM PDT by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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