[OT] Another heated discussion about the Iraq siutation, war and politics.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
Disagree all you want but DS has a valid point there.
No matter the reasons many feel that the anglo-american influence is too strong.
The US capitalistic system produces too much to cheap.

So, please raise your prices, cut production and reduce the quality, then we can all get along nicely!

But that won't work. Becasue now that we have you addicted to American culture you can't help yourself. Oh yes, we will raise prices and cut production, but your demand will not go down. And we will reduce quality to raise our profits, but it won't matter. You will buy it anyway. MUHU-MUHUHU-MUHUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAA.

[Wardad]

WHAT????

The USA has a serious trade deficit because we import too many consumer goods from other countries.

Fortunitly we export some essentials: Food, Weapons, Cotton, and Entertainment.

[Loser]

Originally posted by Wardad:
The USA has a serious trade deficit because we import too many consumer goods from other countries.

That's what I thought...

But I don't have any documentation to back that up. Do you, WD?

[geoschmo]

Right now there is a trade deficit in consumer goods. Those things are cyclical. They depend on the value of the dollar compared to other nations currency more then anything else.

But we are still a net exporter in culture.

[Loser]

When was the cycle Last 'up'?

How far 'down' is it?

[Aloofi]

Originally posted by Loser:
When was the cycle Last 'up'?

The Clinton Era?

How far 'down' is it? [/quote]

Maybe the 1930's recession?

[Loser]

Originally posted by lots of people about exports, magnitudes, and timing:
Words, words, words

Documentation?

I haven't gotten anyone to yet cite a source on this issue.

Raw data, or something close to it, please. No editorials or commentaries otherwise without their own documentation will do.

[edited for clarity and formatted to fit your screen]

[ May 14, 2003, 20:37: Message edited by: Loser ]

[geoschmo]

No, the US ran a trade deficit all through the Clinton years. The current deficit is the largest we have ever had, but it's the continuation of a trend that began in 1992 with the end of the Last recession.

The thing is the trade deficit isn't really a good indicator of the health of the country's economy. More often than not our trade deficit goes up in strong economic years because a strong economy means we have more money to buys stuff. However, the TD can go down in good years and up in bad. Our economy can be bad and still be better than our trading partners, and vice versa.

The Last year we had a surplus in trade was 1975.

Raw Data: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/...ical/gands.pdf

One thing I do think is interesting in looking at the chart is how the balance of trade in goods and and the balance of trade in services have moved in opposite directions. It's a good example of the trend of our nation from a production to a service economy. That's a trend that has been going on since the 60s.

Geoschmo

"I'm not an economist, but I play one in the forum."

[ May 14, 2003, 20:45: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Loser]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
The Last year we had a surplus in trade was 1975.

Raw Data: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/...ical/gands.pdf

...
Geoschmo

You rock, old man.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
But that won't work. Becasue now that we have you addicted to American culture you can't help yourself. Oh yes, we will raise prices and cut production, but your demand will not go down. And we will reduce quality to raise our profits, but it won't matter. You will buy it anyway. MUHU-MUHUHU-MUHUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAA.

Well, if that ever happens, we (the rest of the world) can always turn to Japan or the EU.