Alarming? Absolutely, but it’s hard to be shocked by this. Heck, our leadership has been doing everything it can, whether intentional or otherwise, to do away with “American Exceptionalism.” I’m actually shocked that it took China this long to get there!

…but, sadly, it looks like nobody else wants it!

It seems calls to replace the U.S. dollar as the world’s currency are getting louder, and I honestly have my suspicions that our President is on that bandwagon.  After all, his administration is calling for a new economic world order,and I doubt that is going to lead to nations continuing to remain as independent as they are. (aside: what’s up with Presidents and their use of the phrase “new world order?’  Are they deliberately trying to freak out the conspiracy theorists?)

Japan’s economy, only months ago forecast to be the best performing among the world’s most advanced nations, has become the worst.

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From best to worst.  Not a good sign.  For anyone.

See also: Japanese Economy, Leader Both Sinking

Five Oregon state lawmakers want to impose a hefty tax on beer and have introduced a bill that brewers say would cripple them.

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Basically, these lawmakers are claiming that alcoholism costs Oregon over $13 billion annually (assumption on my part, as the article gives no indication of how these costs are broken down time-wise), so they’re justified in a 1900% tax on beer.  1900%!  How does driving companies out of business get the state’s finances back in the black?

Based on this line of logic, expect anything you can be addicted to, which is pretty much everything, to come up for similar tax considerations.

Pacific Rim nations assured the world Sunday that the global financial crisis can be quelled in 18 months, but provided few details of how they expect that to happen — or how their governments can help.

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Representatives of major international banks told Israeli bankers attending the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Washington, DC at the weekend that the Jewish state is more likely than most industrialized nations to withstand the current global economic crisis.

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This is an interesting turn of events.  I’m not sure exactly what to read into it (other than God always protects his chosen people), but it’s interesting.