The American Dollar: Is is Even Worth the Paper It's Printed On?

As part of my 15-year old daughter's summer experience, she is busy traipsing around Sydney, Australia hanging out with everything from the locals to kangaroos for the historic bi-annual World Youth Day. This historic pilgrimage has drawn over 200,000 people from around the globe on the quest for spiritual inspiration, fellowship and a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.

In her travels and through her e-mail communication, my child has had to deal with the harsh reality of just how little the American dollar is valued right now. She shares how $60 American dollars plus $30 New Zealand dollars only netted her $67 Australian dollars, while a Big Mac Value meal at the local Mickie D's (aka McDonald's) can set you back $12 American dollars.

I can't help but think that to the rest of the world America is having a fire sale. It seems as everything from real estate to banks must go. These can be scary times.

Internet access down under is even limited to the tune of $6 an hour for usage.

I can only pray this economic raping and pillaging of our country will end soon. At the very least, I pray our nation's strength in holding on for what promises to be a bumpy ride.

Black Mixed Race Aborigines Finally Get A Long Overdue Apology For Racist, BS Australian Policies

Now That Australia Admits To Screwing Them, Sorry Needs To Be Followed With Financial Compensation

Australia apologized on Wednesday for the historic mistreatment of Aborigines in a move indigenous leaders said would help end generations of pain.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told parliament that past policies of assimilation, under which aboriginal children were taken from their families to be brought up in white households, were a stain on the nation's soul.

"Today, the parliament has come together to right a great wrong," Rudd said.

"We apologize for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians."

The parliamentary apology comes 11 years after a major report into past assimilation policies found between one in three and one in 10 aboriginal children had been taken from their families between 1910 and 1970. [CNN]