The mess America and Europe are in began before Obama came to office. Blaming him for the mess makes as much sense as blaming the Conservatives in the UK or politicians who inherited the great depression in the 1930’s. If anything this rating downgrade is a condemnation of the political posturing of both parties in recent weeks, putting party politics before giving confidence to America’s creditors. Would you have confidence in lending to someone who was happy to even think about defaulting on paying you? America’s politicians got what they deserved, but unfortunately the result will affect us all, by having to pay higher interest rates.