### warning - if easily scared don't read ### , page-4

The US WILL go the way of Japan within 5-8 years - it is set in stone by the demographics. As many retiring baby boomers are chronically underfunded and overindebted (Social security system in the US is shot too) they will stop spending and start to liquify assets in order to have a reasonable retirement. The current credit and asset bubble has just prolonged the potential hurt.

Australia will not suffer as much due to two things. Rising living standards in Asia will require more and more of our resources, and we do have some capacity for more immigration.

cheery huh?