According to the congressional report, China plans to more than double its renewable energy resource by 2020, is rapidly expanding nuclear power, which despite fears in the wake of the Japanese situation, is the cleanest method of producing power.

FORBES: Green Sprouts in the Far East

But the situation is getting too dire to be rectified by the old method of compromise and consensus.

ECONOMIST: Reform in Germany

The maintenance of the Aaa with a negative outlook into 2014 is highly unlikely unless the method adopted to achieve debt stabilization involved a large, immediate fiscal shock with a resulting unstable economic situation.

FORBES: Moody's Says U.S. Has Until End Of 2013 To Save AAA Rating