The recent troubles faced by Greece bring to mind a fascinating way in which this financial crisis has been different from so many others. Namely, it has been the wealthy, Western countries that have been hit hardest and who have been made to look bad. (A post by community member Inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/)

It was troubles in the United States, the world’s preeminent economic power, which first initiated the recession. Its sophisticated, modernized financial system self-destructed in a manner previously thought only possible in places like Indonesia or Argentina. For the first time since the Great Depression, First-World banks were in danger of falling; Great Britain even had an old-fashioned bank run.