Some analysts caution that the move by central banks did nothing to provide a permanent fix to the problems facing heavily indebted European nations such as Italy and Greece. It only buys time for political leaders.

All of the crisis and hoopla of the last four years has been just an attempt to avoid facing up to reality.

When the crisis began in 2007 people thought we might be in for a little setback. They couldn't imagine any fundamental change happening.

Insiders and outsiders approach the world of money very differently.

Members of Congress are very good at cashing checks. They are very bad at balancing the national checkbook. They haven’t done it for 10 years. They’re out of practice.

People need to expect hopes, dreams and lifestyles to follow the economy changes.

What the Germans really want to know is whether the Greeks and Italians can act like Germans. What the Greeks and Italians want to know is when the Germans are going to stop acting like Germans.

The authorities struggle to remain on course -- towards a more powerful, more centralized, more bountiful state. But they may be fighting the tides of history as well as economics.

Since the beginning of time, the insiders have always had an advantage. That's why people want to be insiders; they know that’s where the money is.

Italy has been forced to get rid of its popular, but difficult to control, elected leader -- Silvio Berlusconi. It has put in a company man. Yes, a company man. What company?