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With the deadline to avoid a default quickly approaching, SmartMoney looks at how the ultimate decision could affect you:

How to Fight the Debt Debate Blues
Focus on sectors that should do well regardless of what lawmakers decide.

S&P, Moody's U.S. Downgrade Irrelevant
What ratings firms say about Treasurys matters less than many suppose.

Video: Shiller & Siegel on How to Clean Up the Debt Mess
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School and Robert Shiller of Yale debate the possibility of a U.S. financial crisis and what can be done to avert it.

More Mayhem for Munis?
A U.S. debt downgrade could be a tough blow for the still-healing municipal bond market.

Invest in These Blue Chips in Event of Default
Dividend-paying blue chips are an attractive alternative.

U.S. Debt on Review: What It Means For You
As credit raters move closer to downgrading U.S. debt, some investing pros are seeking safety.

The Debt Crisis: Where You Should Invest
How can you lower your portfolio's risk in a world of rolling government-debt crises? Start by taking a deep breath. Then, see if you need to do some tinkering but not too much.

How Bad Would Eliminating Social Security's Deficit Feel?
Despite reduced revenues and increased benefit claims in the short run, the Social Security system continues to face a 75-year deficit equal to about 2% of taxable payroll.

New Danger For Bond Funds: Too Much Treasurys
The U.S. government's borrowing has pushed many funds to load up on Treasurys -- just as some are seeing a bubble.

Video: Debt Ceiling 101: How Default Could Affect You

The Debt Debacle's Unintended Effects
Talk of a downgrade on U.S. debt has investors worried about its potential impact on Treasurys, but some market watchers say other assets stand to lose even more.

U.S. Debt Is Cut by Rater Egan-Jones
Egan-Jones Ratings over the weekend lowered its rating on U.S. debt. The move isn't expected to have a major impact on the market, but it comes as larger rating firms Moody's and S&P are considering their own downgrades.

Hearing a Lot of Bad Economic News? Ignore It
The stock-market tug-of-war of recent weeks reflects a battle between companies making bundles of cash and countries that seem badly short of the same.