I think debt default is on it's way.  This Zerohedge article really puts things into perspective:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/us-closes-2010-2011-fiscal-year-1479034032855715-debt-95-billion-jump-day-12-trillion-increase-

At the rate our government is spending money every month, we are going to reach a 100% debt-to-GDP ratio in another month or so.  Once countries hit that point it's a sinking ship.  The only way to sustain that ratio is to manipulate markets and force your citizens and banks to buy more debt like Japan (forgot the technial term for forced buying of bonds).  Sure we can print more money but since it's debt-based it will just accelerate the crash even faster.  The only solution is for our government to stop spending more money than it takes in, and I just don't see that happening.  We are headed for a financial/monetary crash the world has never seen the likes of.