The American economy is stressed to the breaking point by fundamental problems — in housing, finance, credit, employment, health care and the federal budget. And as a result, American workers have taken a beating. John McCain lavished praise on workers, but ignored their problems. That is the real insult.

Opening question time today, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull challenged the Prime Minister to explain what he was doing to fireproof the economy in the wake of the crash of Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers. But Treasurer Wayne Swan accused Mr Turnbull of vandalising the surplus by blocking budget measures in the Senate.