Can Someone Please Explain

I think GE is only AA

because they dont have a bunch of children who can decide at any moment not to make good on their debt

Because they have the capital inflows to pay it off?

Apple has more cash than the U.S government...how is this hard to understand?

I think it's hard to understand because the government has the power to print the currency that the business is using. It only makes sense to the fool who has been eating the lies he's been spoonfed. People are beginning to think they are so smart that they actually end up coming to dumber conclusions.

The paradox of scholastic learning. Travesty.

Those companies take in more money then they spend.

The US Government spend more then it takes in.

Yehh but this is kinda like a double edged sword... I dont think they should be comparable.. see I understand the take in more money than it spends or whatever but they are part of the U.S. economy you know.. It just doesnt make sense that the economy is weaker then the businesses within....plus the government can regulate the business but the business with the better rating cant do much about the governments decision..

if its how you say and so straight up.. why doesn't someone BUY the government.. I think apple should make moves

let me rephrase to put it more clear.. the rating of the company suggests that these companies are more powerful and reliable then the same economy through which they act in.. I don't know how secure I am saying a single company is stronger than the entire US economy.... Although the facts are given as to why the economy was downgraded... I don't feel comfortable giving these companies more power and creditabilty than our own economy... they will squish us like little bugs down the road

GE doesn't have AAA.

The other 4 do. The AAA rating is just a measure of the probability of default. The probability is now higher for the US gov (at least, for S&P, not for Fitch and Moody's), but that does not mean it is going to default anytime soon. These other four companies have strong balance sheets, with low debt/equity and strong cash flow. I

ohh true thank you for explaining rather than just calling me dumb.. I was just trying to figure out why they are comparable or not...

so the "things" being rated are not comparable, but their probability to default is comparable

what is hard to swallow is the fact that the U.S. is more likely to default than Exxon or Microsoft but those companies operate within the U.S. Economy. Wouldn't a U.S. default consist of all these companies causing or absorbing most of the brunt... Its hard to explain but I feel like not one business within U.S. economy could rated higher than the economy itself... its like saying a bunch of elephants are stashed in my closet you know..

If the U.S. defaults .... those other four companies still going to have those rating and be all good and happy.. you know?