Economics and Investing:

This hardly comes as news to most SurvivalBlog readers: Fed: Americans’ wealth dropped 40 percent. Stepping back to look at the big picture, we must ask: Cui bono? The banksters certainly haven’t lost much money, since the government obligingly bailed them out with taxpayer funds.

Greek Blackouts Risked As Power Companies’ Cash Runs Out: Energy. (Thanks to Dennis M. for the link.)

Who really benefits from credit derivatives?

Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge: The ‘Big Reset’ Is Coming: Here Is What To Do

The more the government tries to “fix” things, the more that it fouls things up: China tariffs could slam U.S. solar panel firms. (Thanks to Ken of GettingPrepped.com for sending the link.)

Over at Forex Crunch: Eight Holes in the Spanish Bailout

Items from The Economatrix:

Is it Time to Prepare for Another Recession? [JWR’s Comment: Gosh, did I miss something? Here in my region, we never stopped having the recession that began in late 2007…]

Jobless Claims Fall for First Time Since April

US Rating Faces 2013 Cut if No Credible Plan

Spain Downgraded By Three Notches