But let us trace a little more particularly the differences between the fiat dollar and the greenback. The greenback, in common with every bank note any of you have ever seen, contains a promise to pay dollars.

What is more, plenty of other utilitylike institutions have been in trouble — Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Northern Rock in Britain, Countrywide, Washington Mutual and Wachovia.

Up to this time it have been an uphill bisness. The teem was a good one, and the gear all sound, and the waggin greasd, but the rode is perhaps the ruffest in the world.

“Thank you, Flannery,” Anne said, her low voice a knife edge between sincerity and sarcasm, “for saving my life."