Depends What the Meaning of 'Is' Is, Jerk.

You owe me $40,000.

Of course, we already knew the country is run by geniuses (or, in the Latin, genii). What we didn't know is just how damned genial they are. For example,

National Bureau of Economic Research President Martin Feldstein said Friday ... "The situation is very bad, the situation is getting worse, and the risks are that it could get very bad". [emphasis added]

So, if I understand aright, we're going from "very bad" to a worse "very bad"?

Can we do that?

What I don't understand, though, is whether we're starting from a good, very good, or even a great "very bad." That makes a difference, because it could be quite a while before we get to the worst "very bad." For all I know, we may have to go through a worser "very bad" before we get there.

Then, I guess, we step down a notch, although I don't know if the next notch is "awful" or just "very bad indeed." In either case, though, I guess we would go from 'worst very bad' to 'great [or should that be 'greatest'?] awful/very-bad-indeed.' Oh, it's all so confusing!