the US government is printing money. This way the US$ is worth less and less. The goal -- as one US senator said -- to make 1$ is worth only 10 cents to pay off the foreign debts. On the other hand, with the help of cheap merchandise from low labor cost counties, so far there is no sign of inflation in the US market... at the end, the US$ may loss its current status as the standard currency for international trades, the countries financing the US economy will feel the pain. Uncle Sam, keep printing; hello China, divert your foreign currency reserves!