The problem, of course, is that if the Fed raises rates, the real estate market will collapse even faster which will strangle consumer spending and shrivel GDP. In other words, we are at the brink of two separate but related crises; an economic crisis and a currency ..... I gather at least Thomas agrees, and so do many scholars, economic history expert Markku Kuisma comes first into mind. But like you wrote, several other countries could claim similar ?hidden treasures?. ...