At the core of the problem lies a vicious circle.

ECONOMIST: Central America (2)

The temporary hijacking of Columbus Circle is but the latest chapter of a monumental problem.

WSJ: Discovering Columbus | A Monumental Problem | By James Panero

One way to square that circle is try to make Duncan out to be the problem, as if the education secretary has gone rogue.

CNN: Give Obama A+ for school reform ideas

It does address the root problem, defaulting mortgages, and Mr Bernanke has long worried that bad debt would fuel a vicious circle of crippled lenders, constricting credit, weakening growth and more defaults.

ECONOMIST: The financial crisis