The Ratings Industry--It's Aliiive!

So we are to believe that the ratings industry, which showed such insight and fortitude before the 2008 debt/credit meltdown--an abuse of credit and trust that they both oversaw and mutely officiated over--we are to believe that this collection of abstainers and conscientious objectors will rise on their collective hind legs and with a howl degrade the American debt. And we are to believe that the sanctimonious American congress will not have a witch-hunt if they do--and that the esteemed ratings industry will not be compromised by this threat.