So, where did all the money go?

[begin_within]

Global economic crisis.
Stock markets plunge.
Governments at all levels drowning in red ink:
- City
- County
- State
- Federal
Individuals in financial crisis:
Massive credit card debts
Homes "underwater" (mortgage exceeds market value)
Widespread foreclosures
Retail sales declining
Finance companies near failure, require government intervention - using funds that won't even exist until future generations come up with it.

If nobody has the money any more, then where did all the money go? Who has it?

[TomInTib]

1. Before the gold ran down the gutter....

the sluices were poured and cured.

That's what it was all about.

[Robbien]

2. It was all funny money in the first place

The derivatives were just bets. Nothing of value, just bets. But everyone had them booked as assets.

[endthewar]

4. Exactly. The money never existed.

And those homes were never worth that much either.

[greyl]

3. In one sense, most of it went into consuming Earth and its community of life.

That obviously couldn't last forever.

[JDPriestly]

5. China has a huge trade surplus, so we spent a lot of our

consumer cash on Chinese junk.

[spag68]

6. Where is the money?

I'm surprised at you. The money of course occupies the same warehouse as the 40 tractor trailer loads<80billion> that got lost between the airport and Baghdad.

[pansypoo53219]

7. check

cheeney's man sized safe.

[TexasObserver]

8. the money went for things that have already been bought

It's already been spent on consumer goods, homes, improvements, vacations, and whatever.

[girl gone mad]

9. Various places.

Executive compensation.
Overpriced real estate (residential and commercial).
Stocks (margin calls contributed to the sell-off)
Banks in Iceland.
Cheap Asian-made goods.
Derivatives.
Lavish parties and corporate jets.
Commodities speculation.
Emerging markets speculation.
And so on...