The issue for me is not about the 100 Hive, if you had won the bet and America was not in depression, I would happily pay it.

And I do mean happy, I'm on the brink of losing very large sums of money, and if the American economy wasn't currently collapsing I would jump for joy.

But it is...

My mistake in taking this bet was in not being clear about which figures we could agree on.

In terms of America being in a state of depression, it is - whatever crap the official figures say - it is blindingly obvious. America is screwed. Not later - right now.

NZ is officially not in depression either. Neither is Australia.

In reality I am already living in a giant virtual internment camp and walking past dozens of for lease shops.

You have not yet provided any figures supporting your astonishing claim that America is not in depression.