Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned of U.S. government finances in disarray and out-of-control entitlement spending in a report published earlier this month, predicting a bleak future of significantly higher taxes for Americans even with less government spending.

The high-profile international-business editor of the U.K. Telegraph, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, shocked and pleased readers with an apology for his past support of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, its chairman, and its policies.  

Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke told Congress this week that despite not having any imminent plans to further “support” the economy, the central bank was “considering all options” to fight unemployment and could “step into new areas” because the alleged recovery remains “unusually uncertain.”

Central bankers and analysts are warning of another credit crisis just around the corner as banks start competing with governments to refinance trillions of dollars in short-term debts coming due soon, resulting in significantly reduced credit availability for businesses and consumers, among other problems.

Almost as if a global memo had been sent out, headlines of major media outlets across the planet announced the unfolding of the coming “New World Order” — with a smaller role for the United States and freedom. A correspondingly larger role will be reserved for tyrannical governments like China and global economic management by international institutions, the news reports explained.

The U.S. central bank has once again refused to open itself up to even the slightest amount of transparency. According to Bloomberg news, the Federal Reserve (Fed) Board of Governors is essentially snubbing a request by the Treasury Department for a public review of its structure and governance, even though the review was supposed to be led by the Fed itself.

While every other major component of the economy is shrinking, government at all levels has grown to consume nearly half of America’s gross domestic product.

While Americans were battling cap-and-trade legislation at the national and international levels, global-warming alarmists were quietly building regional systems between state and local governments, private industry, and even foreign governments that basically achieve the same effect -- higher energy prices for consumers and more money for governments.

Amidst strong criticism, the Obama administration’s “Compensation” Czar Kenneth Feinberg (left) took over BP’s $20 billion “slush” fund set up for victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The fund’s new leadership began processing claims on August 23.

After supposedly abandoning the much-touted cap-and-trade scheme due to a lack of support, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced a scaled-back $15 billion energy bill that supporters hope will muster enough votes. But it�s already coming under attack from all angles, and critics are warning that the carbon regime could still be in the cards.