what's to lose?

The IMF sez to the Laureate, "either get your ducks in a row, or we'll soak ya."

But what is this "impasse" they all keep speaking of? The Feds default, the bank$ters get to charge even more usurious interest rates, while taxes stay on the floor.

The pols all keep getting their payola, too, even if they don't get their Federal paycheck. I mean really, even though it's reported income, it's probably not the actual income of any of them. As long as their gunslingers private security firms responsible for National Security get paid, who cares if all the okies are living in tents on Company land?