View: US Housing, Credit & Employment

The North American "Spring" seems nowhere in sight, so forget the revolution. Perhaps the reset will be a "restructuring of the contending classes"; although that idea currently seems remote; a minimum wage increase or an asset mark to market is well lobbied against. Also the U.S. (and Canadian) federal governments are on a declared path of austerity as is Europe and other developed countries. As governments reduce spending the only alternative sources for investment in the economy are the private sector and trade. The trade balance is stubbornly negative.