Very interesting thread this one.
Sunfish makes a factual argument here. The 'bubble' that burst in 2008 is just a precursor to what is coming. The 2008 bubble saw businesses and banks go bust, not a good situation, but it was the tip of the iceberg. As predicted 18 months ago by astute financial people the next stage would be individual countries going bankrupt. Well it has already started, Ireland is broke, Greece, Italy and Portugal are on the brink, the USA is in a mess and by not raising taxes for another 2 years and printing money will see them digging a deeper hole by the day, the trilions being spent on wars and bailouts is unsustainable. The UK has no money, Australia for all it's mouthing off has a governement that is broke and states that are racking up more debt than can be paid off in 50 years ! Anybody who has their head in the sand and is living the fantasy that all is kosher in the worlds economy is a fool. And China is overheating big time and it is inevitable that they will start slowing right down as the growth rate is unsustainable. We havent even started talking about third world countries yet !
The governments are simply trying to delay the inevitable, they know what is coming and do not want you to see it. Mass panic is never good for elections is it ?
I agree with The The that pending future financial woes will affect more airlines than just Qantas which is just a grain of sand in the current financial climate. When the real bubble bursts we are all going to be in a world of hurt. Kiss your super goodbye, your house values will be half of what they are now and share portfolios obliterated. At the moment it is true - cash is king ! But only for now. Give it another few years and the governments will be picking the change out of your kids money boxes, it will be that bad.
Crew rest and breakfastburrito in their comments also paint a good picture of the state of things.
People need to start listening and unwrap themselves from the 'hear no evil, see no evil' protective covering they have cocooned themselves in. Things are not as they seem....