I’m not doing very well financially, I have to admit that.  Truth be told, I’m headed towards bankruptcy and I really don’t have any idea how to avoid that.  I’m just putting it off as long as I possibly can.  I have a huge amount of debt and each year, it increases.  Whenever I am able to make by debt increase less than I did the previous year, I am very proud and tell all my friends what a great job I’m doing.  Even though I have obvious cash flow problems, I give lots of money each year to charity because I’m a big believer in that.  Of course, as you might imagine, since I don’t have available cash, I have to put that on credit (adding even more to my debt), but I’m okay with that because it’s all in a good cause.  My family and friends, though, sometimes are disappointed in me because I’m unable to help them out financially when they need it.  They should be more understanding, don’t you think?  I have all my expenses, all my debts, and my charities, and there just isn’t any money left for me to help them.  One thing I have decided to do for them from now on though is paying all of their medical expenses.  After all, isn’t it the morally correct thing to do?  Now, I don’t have any cash for this either, so that goes on the old credit also, but when it comes to their medical bills, I just can’t say no, can I?

So, i’m trying to do the right things, but it just seems like I’m on a financial downhill spiral and right now I just don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Who am I?  Why, my name is America, of course.