I know, I know, this is mostly a technical blog. As a young programmer, you probably don't much care about financial matters. You're busy building your career and getting by on your entry level salary. However, as you get older, you'll begin to accumulate assets: 401K, stocks, bonds and savings (hopefully).  One day, you wake up, and the shenannigans of the financial markets begin to matter. Particularly when over paid morons begin acting like selfish, self centered teen agers. So forgive me for this trip into finance land... 

I must warn you, the humor in this article will make you cry. If Hedge Funds Kept Cows, Your Milk Would Go Sour.

I've been concerned for some time that the USA is teettering on the brink of a debt driven calamity. I am also coming to the conclusion that maybe we are not a moral people anymore. My parents taught me that borrowing money is probably a mortal sin. You only borrow money for things like homes. (Not a second house, not a vacation house, not a motor house, your one and only home where you hang your hat, as my Dad used to say!) You don't borrow money to buy cars. You do without, and save for what you want, or buy what you can afford if you need the car now. However, my parents forgot to teach their lessons to the politicians they elected. I guess I forgot to remind the politicians of my parent's lessons also. It seems that if the activity generates enough money to outweigh the risks, then go for it!

For those of you that think the government is out of control, just remember that consumer debt in this country is not very far behind government debt. However, the government can place its debt on the backs of you and me. Here's an article regarding the state we may be headed to: America, The Banking Welfare State