Well, the neocons certainly are taking the U.S. in the greatest direction.

It would seem the idea of getting kicked off the global mountain is not good, but we continue to hear year after year and day after day about how this is good for our nation.

I wonder how long it will take these republican drones to actually start paying attention to the country and the reality of the direction they are taking us.

I think we found that slippery slope the conservatives are always looking for.

Republicans are incompetent idiots. Don't they realize they are singularly responsible for destroying the economy? People don't have a pot to piss in because the Repubs have wasted all our hard earned money. What we need to do, to set America back on course, is to tackle Global Poverty and implement Socialist Medicine.

~Democrats

Walt,

Nice, as much as I agree with what you have to say about the democrats, it is extremely important to get people to see what direction we are heading so at least we can get all of the political parties and people in dialogue about how to fix our downing.

So it takes the combined total of all the GDPs from 15 entire countries and the dollar dipping to a record low just to barely surpass one measly little "depression" ridden economy? Now I am really worried.

Cheers,
Walt

Money,

Nice, as much as I agree with what you have to say about the democrats, it is extremely important to get people to see what direction we are heading so at least we can get all of the political parties and people in dialogue about how to fix our downing.

Step 1: Fire the President.
Step 2: Fire Congress.
Step 3: Get all new ones.

Walt,

I was talking real dialogue in reality of the real world, not some dream world.

Even with all the stats going in the backwards downward trend for the United States we have yet to have a single neocon republican actually admit that changes need to be made other than to ease up regulations which caused the problems in the first place.

we have yet to have a single neocon republican actually admit that changes need to be made other than to ease up regulations which caused the problems in the first place.

I can only speak for myself and say that yes, changes do need to be made. I was thinking along the lines of Social Security and Medicare, I would love to see those eliminated.

Which regulations are you referring to? In all seriousness.

I can only speak for myself and say that yes, changes do need to be made. I was thinking along the lines of Social Security and Medicare, I would love to see those eliminated.

And please tell us how that would help? It would do nothing but create more problems not less.

Wages are the lowest share of GDP since the stat has been taken since 1947 and the problem is going to continue.

If peoples wages can't keep up with inflation they cannot consume and that is fact. The problem now is the small contractor is getting hit too because people can't even have them produce. They can't afford it.

Revenues for the government come through wages, and downing wages and offloading jobs even through government contracts seems to be the great economy of the republican mantra and yet they can't seem to grasp that this is the beginnings of the falling tile.

And please tell us how that would help? It would do nothing but create more problems not less.

I was being snarky about Medicare but eliminating SS would help plenty. First of all I would be able to keep more of my own money. Then I could invest it wisely and retire with a hell of a lot more per month than whatever the 1300 or so a month that the Government gives back to me after confiscating it for my entire life.

Yes, I know you were being snarky, as was I.

Eliminating SS would do nothing for this nation but create more and more poverty, only this would be to our elderly. I see that as a good plan, don't you.

It is these conversations though that spark the minds of all who read to see the problems facing our nation and demanding that our current do nothing democratic party in power do some much needed representation and work.

Even I can't lay the blame at any one party. They are all do nothings and I really would like to see them all tossed out. We are the ones that vote those vermin into office and we should be ones to vote them right back out when they act like freaks.

True enough, Walt. When I read the headline on the front page, I thought it was another wacko goldbug site. Then I saw it was Reuters and said, Huh?

Then, I realized: they added up all the countries in the continent. Wow. Maybe you can do that with Asia, too? Knock us down to number 3?

Japan is the second largest economy in the world, and theirs is half ours. Unless, that is, some enterprising journalist figures out a way to sell some more papers with a headline that plays loose with the facts. Like this one.

Finally the US is seeing the benefits of all these free trade pacts.

It is about time!

RIR is here to spout his great economy is doing just fine.

Please tell us again how this is just bad reporting and we are really way way strong.

We are falling in almost every sector of our economy in real terms but you never ever seem to admit such things.

I suppose it is your worry that such things being said would harm those real mental giants who invest.

I guess he is a glass half full guy. Even with the giant hole in the bottom of the glass.

we used to be stronger then all the countries combined.

now we're weaker, and we are on a downward trend

and we owe a huge debt to the yellow star nation

pretty soon we won't be arguing about god bless or god damn america

we'll be saying god bless or god damn china

You can really tell that people are taking this threat for real since we are seeing complete sell-offs of stocks and everyone is at the bank pulling all their money out. Just the other day I saw a guy pushing a wheel barrel full of 100s to go get a refill of his Starbucks.

Cheers,
Walt

I wonder if we are going to see ...

U.S. Economy The World Biggest

as soon as the dollar gains and the EU is relegated back to a bunch of jealous America haters?

Cheers,
Walt

The US has squandered $500 billion dollars on a war that serves no American purpose. Moreover, the $500 billion is only the out-of-pocket costs. It does not include the replacement cost of the destroyed equipment, the future costs of care for veterans, the cost of the interests on the loans that have financed the war, or the lost US GDP from diverting scarce resources to war. Experts who are not part of the government's spin machine estimate the cost of the Iraq war to be as much as $3 trillion.

When America's creditors consider our behavior they see total fiscal irresponsibility. They see a deluded country that acts as if it is a privilege for foreigners to lend to it, and a deluded country that believes that foreigners will continue to accumulate US debt until the end of time.

David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the US and head of the Government Accountability Office, in his December 17, 2007, report to the US Congress on the financial statements of the US government noted that "the federal government did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (including safeguarding assets) and compliance with significant laws and regulations as of September 30, 2007." In everyday language, the US government cannot pass an audit. The fact of the matter is that the US is bankrupt.

Moreover, the GAO report pointed out that the accrued liabilities of the federal government "totaled approximately $53 trillion as of September 30, 2007." No funds have been set aside against this mind boggling liability.

Just so the reader understands, $53 trillion is $53,000 billion.

Frustrated by speaking to deaf ears, Walker recently resigned as head of the Government Accountability Office.

As of March 17, 2008, one Swiss franc is worth more than $1 dollar. In 1970, the exchange rate was 4.2 Swiss francs to the dollar. In 1970, $1 purchased 360 Japanese yen. Today $1 dollar purchases less than 100 yen. Yet the euro hits new highs daily against the dollar.

Would you want to hold the debt of a country whose imports exceed its industrial production?

According to the latest US statistics as reported in the February 28 issue of Manufacturing and Technology News, in 2007 imports were 14 percent of US GDP and US manufacturing comprised 12% of US GDP. A country whose imports exceed its industrial production cannot close its trade deficit by exporting more.

Noam Chomsky recently wrote that America thinks that it owns the world. That is definitely the view of the neoconized Bush administration. But the fact of the matter is that the US owes the world. The US "superpower" cannot even finance its own domestic operations, much less its gratuitous wars except via the kindness of foreigners to lend it money that cannot be repaid.

The US will never repay the loans. The American economy has been devastated by offshoring, by foreign competition, and by the importation of foreigners on work visas, while it holds to a free trade ideology that benefits corporate fat cats and shareholders at the expense of American labor.

The dollar is failing in its role as reserve currency and will soon be abandoned.

When the dollar ceases to be the reserve currency, the US will no longer be able to pay its bills by borrowing more from foreigners.

I sometimes wonder if the bankrupt "superpower" will be able to scrape together the resources to bring home the troops stationed in its hundreds of bases overseas, or whether they will just be abandoned.

excerpted from Paul Craig Roberts @Counterpunch

I wonder if we are going to see ...

U.S. Economy The World Biggest

as soon as the dollar gains and the EU is relegated back to a bunch of jealous America haters?

Cheers,
Walt

Yes as long as you shut the fuck up until then.

Reality, it's not just for Democrats anymore......

o it takes the combined total of all the GDPs from 15 entire countries and the dollar dipping to a record low just to barely surpass one measly little "depression" ridden economy? Now I am really worried.

Keep in mind that we are a republic and those 15 entire countries are about the size and make up of 15 of our most prosperous states... except that heavily taxed socialist liberal wasteland... California (whose GDP keeps the rest of the 49 states in the (republic) country competitive) and which stands by itself as an economic power.

So to insist that that it takes several ENTIRE, small countries such as France or Germany shows your ignorance and probably explains why you support Bushenomics. Of course there was that $300 tax rebate you got the first go round... and now the promise of a $600 tax rebate that makes selling the soul of America down the tubes worth it. Fucking whore.

Time to annex Canada and Mexico.

Then I could invest it wisely and retire with a hell of a lot more per month than whatever the 1300 or so a month that the Government gives back to me after confiscating it for my entire life.

Posted by Walt

Just as long as you don't mind sidestepping the homeless old ladies on your way to the store to spend it.

So wait, is this article saying that not only are the European pinko socialists better at saving babies and having old people live longer, but they're better at making money too? While working less hours? No wonder all you losers hate them.

We're getting what we deserve. Socialist agendas since the Great Society have bankrupted this nation. And now that this is accomplished, Debauchocrats can start screwing people in other ways and make this land one great big Mardi Gras.

Join us in our parade everyone! Come on out, that we might "know" you! Grab your ankles and let's do it in public. Celebrate debuachery...Join the Debauchocratic Party!

Misleading title.

Eurozone, not one individual country.

No single country is still half the economy of the US. But new kids on the blocks are welcome if they come to that. No need to be unhappy about. The world prospering is a good thing.

Too many US resources are going to futile wars. China is smart, they pour their resources back into their economy, whilst they see the US throwing it away. We better all start learning the Chinese language. China is already the new economic superpower - soon they will be calling all the shots.

Then, I realized: they added up all the countries in the continent.

The first mistake, the article is talking ECONOMY not countries.

How could it be the biggest? We make almost nothing here now.

walt, you left out a real big step. Cut out government in half. It is nothing but a leach on society. The government produces nothing but the producers have to get permission from the government to even produce anything.

We're getting what we deserve. Socialist agendas since the Great Society have bankrupted this nation. And now that this is accomplished, Debauchocrats can start screwing people in other ways and make this land one great big Mardi Gras.

Join us in our parade everyone! Come on out, that we might "know" you! Grab your ankles and let's do it in public. Celebrate debuachery...Join the Debauchocratic Party!



Posted by DoubtingThomas at 2008-03-18 06:26 PM | Reply | Flag:
Would the "socialist agenda" you speak of include the last 8 years of leadership? Or, are the Refuckuplicans clean in this matter?

Oh I almost forgot

David vitter bought pussy and thats illegal.

the combined GDP of the 15 countries which use the euro overtook that of the United States

15 vs. 1... okay...

15 vs. 1... okay...

Population: 291 million people live in the euro zone (compared with 269 million people in the United States.

Well, population size is nearly the same so I would say this is significant.

Why not get a clear understanding of this before spouting a closed minded ignorant post for dismissive purposes.

They have passed us and hardly think one can clearly say we are the great nation that resides in just our minds.

Eurozone population is 320 million.

Guess what? Today the dollar rallied against the euro, closing at $1.5625. Which places the US number one again, with eurozone GDP now at $13,824,826.72.

Hopefully we won't be playing these silly games every day, seeing as the dollar is traded on world exchanges. Next year three other countries are scheduled to join the EU. Last I checked, Poland and Czechoslavakia and Cyprus and France and Belgium are still considered separate countries, aren't they?

We're getting what we deserve. Socialist agendas since the Great Society have bankrupted this nation. And now that this is accomplished, Debauchocrats can start screwing people in other ways and make this land one great big Mardi Gras.

Join us in our parade everyone! Come on out, that we might "know" you! Grab your ankles and let's do it in public. Celebrate debuachery...Join the Debauchocratic Party!

The Debauchocrats have a longer record of balancing the budget that the Republitard.... who are turning this country into Mexico.

Given the option I would take being turned into Canada over Mexico

The Mission has only just begun...

So it takes the combined total of all the GDPs from 15 entire countries and the dollar dipping to a record low just to barely surpass one measly little "depression" ridden economy? Now I am really worried.

yes, it takes all the GDPs from 15 countries of the Eurozone (there are some more countries in the EU) to surpass all the GDPs from 50 states.

I was pretty worried before, but now I am REALLY worried. They trounced all over our asses.

$13,880,568.4 EU
$13,843,800 US
------------------
36,768.40

I am surprised we don't see this headline:

Europe continues to widen the gap as stricken US Economy plunges further into Recession

At today's rate, they are $45,651.54 ahead of us. So that means that in about a week, they could be $100,000 ahead of us!

Oh my God, whatever shall we do?

Eurozone population is 320 million.

America is 5% of the global population and likes to act like it's the biggest kid on the block.

Newsflash to US.

You aint.

The whole sole superpower thing is a fucking PNACkleheaded pipedream as well. Just cause ya spend an unholy amount of yer resources on MIC spending does not mean you own the fucking planet.

Owe the planet?

Yeah, that's true.

China must be laughing themselves sick everytime America shows up with begging bowl in hand in order to kowtow to the one economy on earth still willing to lend the US money.

In truth, much of the world would luff to bankrupt the US but they can't see any way of doing it without causing a global economic collapse.

Socialist agendas since the Great Society have bankrupted this nation

Gotta luff Doubting Thomas' assklown act.

Fucking sexually repressed religious freak job without even half a clue to his fucking name.

Still he's kinda amusing in his own sad, pathetic way.

Earth to DT:

The Rethuglycunt party stopped being the party of fiscal conservancy sometime after Rotten Ronnie Raygun the Zombie Cowboy delivered up the first Trillion dollar budget.

Of course, Dumbya makes Raygun look like a financial genius in direct comparison such a fuck up he's been in his time in office.

Rethugs shouldn't even be allowed to use the words "fiscally" and responsible" together in a sentence fer the next coupla of generations.

Seriously.

BTW, here's another clue, moron.

It's not social program that are bankrupting America it's runaway military spending plus corporate tax breaks and shelters fer the hyper rich doing most of the damage.

Hell, Americans don't even have a real health care system like the rest of the industrialised world.

Now go put on yer hair shirt and go meet Ted Haggert and let him snort crystal meth off yer dick you bible thumping fuck-wit.

Be Well.

Spud,

Hell, Americans don't even have a real health care system like the rest of the industrialised world.

That is because for the most part, we don't want one. And I certainly wouldn't want your version.

The same government that created such a fucked up mess as the IRS is not one I would want to control health care. These guys can't even do public education right and yet somehow we think they can manage and run an effective health care system. They can't do crap without fucking it up.

It will be the biggest disaster in the history of disasters if we tried to let the government manage that crap.

You guys up in Canukistan can have all the socialism you want.

Then, I realized: they added up all the countries in the continent. Wow. Maybe you can do that with Asia, too? Knock us down to number 3?

POSTED BY RIGHTISRIGHT

No, they did not do that. They counted just the countries of the EU which use the EURO. The EU would be even bigger. But dream on.

The EU would be even bigger. But dream on.
POSTED BY FRIBO AT 2008-03-19 05:41 AM | REPLY |

You seem pleased by this? Are you?

Cheers,
Walt

who some say may become the richest Rothschild of them all.

Interesting article. I just can't get too interested in anything about McCain. The more I read about him the less I really care about him. I have still not decided if I am going to vote for him or not. I am going to have to wait and see who would be VP.

Cheers,
Walt

Oh my God, whatever shall we do?


Keep ignoring the problem and it will magically get better.

"You guys up in Canukistan can have all the socialism you want. "

none of the stans have social healthcare

they don't have health care
they are cash based systems

if you don't got the cash you can't get the surgery


besides, in the usa they don't want to institute a euro or canadian style of social medicine

insurance companies will still be king
but those that can't get it, can get a medicare style insurance...

i'm sure they won't have the ability to get to the top doctors, cause remember, doctors can choose what insurance they accept and what they don't

it will however allow the poorest of the poor that the conservatives don't want to think about a way to get the care they need in their local PUBLIC hospitals instead of perpetuating poverty by having to pay out of pocket to live.

isn't america about life, liberty and the persuit of happiness, unless you are poor and don't have health insurance.

Kliff,

isn't america about life, liberty and the persuit of happiness, unless you are poor and don't have health insurance.

This is a small example I know, and I realize that some people are legitimately poor, but I have seen people on Food Stamps with HD Plasmas and PS3s driving Excursions. Most poor people are poor because they have made very stupid decisions or they chose the easy way out and just blame society for their troubles. I have no sympathy for some guy who can't afford health care, but he can afford a cell phone and satellite TV.

And speaking of the Stans, here in Afghanistan where the average wage is like under 100$ a month, and beggars line the streets, damn near every last one of them have cell phones, sometimes 2. It was the same way in Iraq.

But back on topic, you have these useless lounge lizards with no damn job and no inkling to go out and get 1. If they are so poor they can't afford a few hundred bucks a month for health care, they need to cut back. Stop buying new shoes and clothes, shop at Sams Club, don't have a TV, don't have a phone, drive the cheapest car you can find, don't eat out, don't buy coffee or sodas at the vending machines, don't go to movies, don't drink beer or smoke cigarettes, get another job or 2. I could go on, but you get my point. If they are too stupid to figure that out then they don't deserve a bailout with my hard earned cash.

Cheers,
Walt

"First of all I would be able to keep more of my own money. Then I could invest it wisely and retire with a hell of a lot more per month"

YEAH!


As made evident by the resounding financial success by the investors of Bear Sterns, Enron, etc

Anyway, its of no surprise the ardent are employing their "Whistle Past the Grave Yard" strategy ---- this stuff wont be an issue for them until the day after Bush flees from office, then they will stink up the place to high heaven with their gnarly boney fingers and parsed thin translucent lips spitting accusations of culpability and pointed in all directions except towards themselves!!

I want the exact same job description as the chairman of Bear Stearns.


And I'll do it for a smaller benefits package.


But I'd have to hire someone to do the bridge tournaments, while I took care of the golf part.

"First of all I would be able to keep more of my own money. Then I could invest it wisely and retire with a hell of a lot more per month"

YEAH!


As made evident by the resounding financial success by the investors of Bear Sterns, Enron, etc

Is that really what you meant to say? I need the government to hold my dick while I piss because of Enron and Bear Stearns? Please tell me you are joking. Even an investment moron knows you don't put all your money into 1 damn company! And the fact that a few mega-companies have failed does nothing to address the fact that there are 10s of thousands of other companies across the globe worth investing in as well as commodities (Gold for example).

Social Security should have never been invented. It is useless to me and countless other Americans who have the foresight to begin investing early in our lives. I don't want or need the government to babysit my ass. It is my life and if I am a fucking moron who can't plan for retirement it is not up the government to bail me out. At the very least, participation in the Social Security nightmare should be voluntary. You don't pay, you don't get.

Cheers,
Walt

No, they did not do that. They counted just the countries of the EU which use the EURO. The EU would be even bigger. But dream on.

Posted by fribo
* * *

Fair enough. Can we add up all the countries in the world that use the dollar?

I'm surprised the euro has lasted as long as it has. Because as different as New Hampshire is from, say, Oregon, the differences are miniscule compared to those of Cyrpus and the Netherlands. Germany is subsidizing Italian inflation with high unemployment; France is subsidizing the rebulding the Eastern Europe through high taxes and massive immigration. And so on.

Ah well. Gotta hand it to the Europeans. All the really horrible ideas seem to start there, and stick around a lot longer than they really should. Even with this ridiculous currency confederation, they don't disappoint. Gonna be interesting.

"I need the government to hold my dick while I piss because of Enron and Bear Stearns?

YEAH!

Obviously! Your post alludes to the fact that you are a piss-poor poser who sits around all day bemoaning the meager penance people of substance (of which obviously you are not) actually pay into SS!
Fact is, your meager contribution if returned directly to you wouldn't make a difference when (and it's inevitable) you become a ward of the state via your magic ball that magically outlines how one "invest it wisely" in an epileptic market.

SS is an insurance policy plan and simple and there isn't an "insurance policy" in existence that when employed returns your premiums at a "profit"! To try to frame an Insurance policy as an "investment" is absolute idiocy and there isn't a regulation or bit of legislation that prevents you from investing every red cent you've got into fly-by-night, get rich quick schemes. It does however guarantee that the burden and risk you pose is spread across all American tax payers (cause like it our not, "One Nation" implies "One People" which means we are all in this together in the end)!

But, perhaps you are different, perhaps you are different from most Americans who don't even know how to merge into traffic properly, yet, as if by a miracle, they will "invest wisely" according to you! More likely however is that these very people will fritter away their assets (cause their dumb, unlucky or whatever) and become a liability at a time when their usefulness to the corporate machine has diminished and therefore the rest of us will either have to pay MORE (cause procrastinating always costs MORE) or step over their carcasses in the streets!
And nothing makes the "Christian Nation" a hard sell like bodies and indigents littering the streets!

Thanks for yet another "Americans Are too Stupid to do it Themselves" argument from the left.

Thanks again for thinking you are intellectually superior to the American people.

Thank you again for trying to force people to depend on the government rather than themselves.

Thanks for not pointing out that while they may be too stupid to manage their own portfolio, they are still able to seek the assistance of a Financial Adviser.

Cheers,
Walt

Well, population size is nearly the same so I would say this is significant.


Population may be the same, but are their economic policies? are their natural resources the same? Do they have the same geographic makeup?

Just having the same number of people doesn't impress me.

I don't see it as a catastrophe for America to be just barely behind the combined efforts of 15 nations against just us. Do any one of those nations beat us?

Thanks for the entertainment. I am sure most of you actually know nothing about the economy as I doubt many of you have jobs.

Well, I am off to the links, retirement is great.

If we add Canada and Mexico's GDP, are we bigger? It could be continent v continent.

Walt, are all things run by the government poor? You mention education, and how we are faring world wide. Do you know that other countries, countries that are beating us in education of their children, they have public education. So is it government public education that is the problem, or just our current system?

I don't see it as a catastrophe for America to be just barely behind the combined efforts of 15 nations against just us. Do any one of those nations beat us?

POSTED BY ROB_THE_A_HOLE

This 15 nations are part of the EU using the same currency. Great Britain and 11 others in the EU are using their own currency.

No, we would not dare do "beat" the great US of A, but a small country as Germany is the world's biggest exporter. But you win - as always - the US is a much bigger importer.

This 15 nations are part of the EU using the same currency.

Good for you guys... it took 15 nations for you to barely edge out the United States... Like John said above, how about we bring in Canada and **sigh** Mexico, and then see what the score is...

15-1 and its practically a tie... well done... Great for you guys...

GDP/capita of US $47K

GDP/Capita of Europe $19K

I think the $47K is bigger.

No, we would not dare do "beat" the great US of A, but a small country as Germany is the world's biggest exporter. But you win - as always - the US is a much bigger importer.

Posted by fribo
* * * *

Nope. The US passed Germany last year as the world's number one exporter.

By the way, we're also the world's largest manufacturer, in case that was going to be your next question.

This is a small example I know, and I realize that some people are legitimately poor, but I have seen people on Food Stamps with HD Plasmas and PS3s driving Excursions



so walt where DID you do this socio economic study of yours.

you have actually seen these people? you break into their homes at night to catalogue their stuff?

"Thanks for yet another "Americans Are too Stupid to do it Themselves" argument from the left."

YEAH!

They voted for Bush didn't they twice! They voted him in NOT on performance but on endless chatter from the wingding noise machine (and look at the RESULTS)!

"Thanks again for thinking you are intellectually superior to the American people."

YEAH!
At least I don't have to pretend the trivial amount I pay for Insurance is keeping me down (like you)!

"Thank you again for trying to force people to depend on the government rather than themselves."

YEAH!

Except I did no such thing! What I did say was people of Means will be fully capable and permitted to invest in whatever they invest in now! And it's a wise move to have insurance in the event of the unforeseen regardless (of capability).

"Thanks for not pointing out that while they may be too stupid to manage their own portfolio, they are still able to seek the assistance of a Financial Adviser."

YEAH!
As if that Financial Adviser (I.e. Bear and Sterns) is beyond shenanigans or is just as lame as the stupid American who thinks because someone has "Financial Adviser" as their job title on a business card that they actually know anything (i.e. see the electing of Bush twice for an example)!

Well when you start passing legislation like the Foreign Investment and National Security Act which gives the Committee on Foreign Investment wide berth in limiting business that foreign companies can take part in here, you are going to see some backlash. I bet you guys didn't know that affiliates of foreign companies employ in excess of five million Americans, about one third of whom work in manufacturing. Moreover, these affiliates pay in excess of $325 billion in wages each year - about $65,000/worker, which is a third higher than the national average. In 2005 subsidiaries of foreign corporations reinvested nearly $60 billion in their US operations and paid billions in taxes. Now we are shutting out these businesses because of our closed border mentality and other nations are doing the same. This will surely lead to a stand-still in the global economy and end up hurting all of us in the long run.

Fair enough. Can we add up all the countries in the world that use the dollar?

As currency? Please do.

Besides that, the countries of the EuroZone are part of the EU. The EU is the United Countries of Europe, it is some 50 years old and contains more than 500 million people. The USA at that age had a similar number of states and were close to a civil war, because half of it were slave owners.

Nope. The US passed Germany last year as the world's number one exporter.

By the way, we're also the world's largest manufacturer, in case that was going to be your next question.

POSTED BY RIGHTISRIGHT

The US might by the world's number one importer. You are the greatest - as always. But ...

In the export business the USA was not even No 2 in 2007, that place went to China. So it was
1. Germany (for some years in a row)
2. China
3. USA.
In 2008 China will surpass Germany, US will remain third.

Pancho,

For millions of Americans, one fluke event can turn a delicate balancing act into financial free-fall. And when the government doesn't provide an adequate safety net, it's a long way down to the bottom

I did not get to where I am easily, and I am not talking about the long flight. I have been in the positiono where I have had to borrow 20 bucks from my sister for gas money. I was broke for a long time, and I always had the same account balance at the end of the month (0.00). But while I was broke I also had a Camaro, a John Deere riding lawnmower, a house with 3 bedrooms, a cell phone and all the other shit that one does not have to have to get by. I also had a ton of CC debt and was paying off about 100K in student loans, which were behind. It was my own stupid decisions that led me to be in the position I was in. I made decent dough, but I lived far beyond my means. I know how to walk the tightrope, I know how much it sucks to go and get a payday advance loan. Fortunately I saw the light abot a decade and half ago, fixed my shit and am now reaping the rewards. I am not getting on here and talking about this shit as someone having been born with a silver spoon shoved up my ass. I realized that it took more than a bigger paycheck to get me out of debt, it took a change in habits. You look at some of these assclowns with no jobs, but they still have money for beer and weed. And you want me to support them? Nobody supported me when I was broke and I didn't expect them to. In a perfect world with an unlimited supply of money trees, fine, give them whatever you want, but what you are talking about, giving money to the poor it seems, directly impacts me, in a negative way.

It's much easier to dismiss poor people as undeserving, unsavory, crackheads, welfare queens--not like respectable middle-class Americans--than to acknowledge the enormous problems that continue to plague our society.

Being taxed at too high of a rate is what keeps people from escaping the level in which they currently find themselves. I do not want to get any more personal than I already have so you will have to read between the lines on that one. Hopefully you will appreciate the candor.

Cheers,
Walt

so walt where DID you do this socio economic study of yours.

you have actually seen these people? you break into their homes at night to catalogue their stuff?
POSTED BY TRUTHHURTS AT 2008-03-19 01:15 PM | REPLY | FLAG:
Truth,

Is this a real question or a drive by troll? If you are asking for real, I know because I have seen many examples of it in real life. Last year, when I was in the States, I was a manager for a company that made home deliveries of food. I would ride along with the drivers to make sure they were safe and to meet the customers. I personally saw, with my own eyes, people paying for food with food stamps, and in the living room were Plasmas and PS3s and in the driveways were Excursions, Explorers, Navigators, Accords, and in a few cases Lexus(s)(i)?

I have answered your question. Now let's see if you were trolling or asking for real.

Cheers,
Walt

YEAH!

As if that Financial Adviser (I.e. Bear and Sterns) is beyond shenanigans or is just as lame as the stupid American who thinks because someone has "Financial Adviser" as their job title on a business card that they actually know anything (i.e. see the electing of Bush twice for an example)!

POSTED BY REDNECKVILLE AT 2008-03-19 01:17 PM | REPLY | FLAG:

Again. Redneckville is smarter than everyone and thinks that just because someone is hired as a Financial Advisor that they still don't know shit. Only Redneckville does.

So not only are the Americans too stupid to merge into traffic and to pick some investments, but the Financial Advisors are also too stupid to know what to do with the money.

What I did say was people of Means will be fully capable and permitted to invest in whatever they invest in now!

Did you think for a second, that those stupid Americans without MEANS may become stupid Americans with MEANS if they were so heavily taxed and were able to decide what to with their own money rather than having it confiscated and distributed to all the others without MEANS? I know full well I can invest my extra capital, I am just pissed that I don't have more of it to invest because people like yourself want to yank it all away from me and hand it out like door prizes to the rest of the country.

Cheers,
Walt

At least I don't have to pretend the trivial amount I pay for Insurance is keeping me down (like you)!

I never complained about insurance costs. Please provide this link. My company pays mine even though I don't need it because I have access to free health care on military bases.

Cheers,
Walt

They voted for Bush didn't they twice! They voted him in NOT on performance but on endless chatter from the wingding noise machine (and look at the RESULTS)!

So it was only stupid American conservatives that voted for him and it is only stupid American conservatives who cannot intelligently invest? Endless chatter and noise? Like "Change" and "Hope"?

Cheers,
Walt

"were so" in my 334 = "were not so". My bad.

Thanks George

Try again.
www.mapsofworld.com

World Top 10 - Exporters Countries
Country In Billion Dollars

United States 731
Germany 608
Japan 384
China 313

POSTED BY RIGHTISRIGHT

That was in 2003. Clearly written at the top of the map you are presenting.

This is getting a little silly, because the article is based on currency rates. But the USD rallied 2.34% against the euro in the last two days, which means the author's math would put the US on top again, by about $120 billion in GDP.

Gold and silver have collapsed, along with oil. I saw an analysis day before yesterday that said that if the dollar were to strengthen 5%, the precious metals would fall by at least 30%. So far, he looks right.

Markets run both ways.

for all who are so happy for democratic reform, realize it was Clinton who signed NAFTA,

Democrats are not much different than republicans when it comes to tearing down the US ecoonomy and middle class. they just want a bigger govt to do it with.

Big govt is easier to manipulate that free markets

how about less spending AND less taxes

I saw an analysis day before yesterday that said that if the dollar were to strengthen 5%, the precious metals would fall by at least 30%. So far, he looks right.

God I hope not, my gold fund is the only one doing worth a shit. Oh well. What do they call that shit? Dollar cost averaging or something? I am just a stupid American but I do have a Financial Adviser.

Oh well, back to the cartoons.

Cheers,
Walt

RiR,

According to my calculations ...

EU Economy as pointed out is 8,847,889.1 Euros and the US economy as pointed out is 13,843,800 dollars.

At the current rate on xe.com of 1 EUR = 1.54484 USD ...

8,847,889.1 Euros = 13,668,590.49 USD

So 13,843,800 USD for the US economy
Et 13,668,590.49 USD for the EU economy

Puts the US in the lead by 175,209.51 USD.

I will be expecting my headline in the morning.

US Economy Still #1

Cheers,
Walt

The world's economy isn't a set size so it doesn't matter if the US economy is bigger than the EU. What matters is, is our economy growing.

I would rather have 10 dollars in my pocket even if the guy next to me has 11 dollars over have 7 dollars to the other guy having 6.

I will be expecting my headline in the morning.

US Economy Still #1

Cheers,
Walt

Posted by Walt
* * *

I won't be holding my breath.

By the way, dollar strengthened further against the euro since your post. It closed today at $1.5416. Precious metals--an oxymoron if ever there was one--have just gotten demolished over the last few days as the dollar has moved higher.

What I would love to see is a short squeeze orchestrated by the Treasury. Have Paulson announce that the Treasury will be selling euro and yen and buying back dollars in the open market, and will be selling gold to buy back dollars held by foreign government reserves. It would pop 10% in about 12 hours of trading.

You are correct. 1.54161 from www.xe.com as of this post.

You really think, the Dollar will rise against the Euro?
Amazing.

I do. Then it'll fall again. Then go up. Then down. Up again. You know--the way currencies always fluctuate over time with each other.

Oh, I'm sorry--you must be another one of those sky-is-falling guys. Apologies. Carry on.

You really think, the Dollar will rise against the Euro?

Hell no. I most certainly don't. RiR must be some sort of fucking moron to think it will.

What is going to happen is that the EU will become the world's biggest superpower. They will gradually merge with every other nation in Europe and Asia and form strong enough bonds to allow them to systematically wipe out American civilization and we will be relegated to a life of misery and sorrow.

The US economy is going to collapse and tens of millions in America will be left to die hungry in the streets. Buildings are going to collapse, the military will disintegrate and we will be forced into a life of groveling at the heels of the UN, similar to the plight of many poverty stricken nations in Africa. Our new European masters may allow us to clean their toilets, but those will be the lucky ones. The rest are going to die.

Cheers,
Walt

You think they'll still be using toilets in Europe, after the Muslims take over?