A big part of the trade issue is that we in the US are the most consumer-driven "market" on the planet. Various administrations and congresses have allowed anyone to ship stuff to us with minimal duties and tariffs, despite onerous costs for goods going the other way. This--plus a variety of other factors--have created a huge trade imbalance and contributed to the astonishing national debt.

Our fine elected officials, most bought and paid for by special intersts foreign and domestic, have let this happen and it is going to be very hard to recover. The greed for consumer goods has fueled this, and our high labor costs have driven the manufacturing over seas, so there is darn little made in this country that can't be made cheaper elsewhere. So what are we to export? Look around your home and office and you won't find much made in the U.S. Almost everything with a US brand is made elsewhere. For example, I saw the other day where cotton picked in Mississippi is shipped to Cambodia or Vietnam to be spun into cloth, then the cloth is shipped to China where it is made into tee shirts, that are shipped back here. And it is still cheaper than making the tee shirts here. I always find this kind of thing to be amazing!

But back to the point of the weak dollar. Our national debt is much more to blame than the trade balance, at least as I understand it. There is lack of confidence in the dollar because the US is so far in debt. FWIW, when I was in Canada last week, the National Post noted that the CDN dollar being high against the greenback is not so good for Canada and may impact jobs up there, as there is less of an advantage for US firms to do business up there--like manufacturing (cars included). But those jobs would go to Mexico or offshore, not back to the US.

Sorry to rant, babble, etc.

Noel

posted by 69.163.4...

• Dollar down? (+), Vlad, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 06:32:36
  • It's hard to export manufactured goods when...., zeke, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 14:48:29
  • More to cost than purchase price, Ari , Thu, 2 Dec 2004 08:17:28
    • OK, Chevy Cavalier then (+), Vlad, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 09:41:41
      • In Europe, everything made in USA is big $$$, Street, Fri, 3 Dec 2004 06:39:20
      • Re: OK, Chevy Cavalier then (+), fsik, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 13:22:06
        • But wouldn't the Kia cost 24k with 100% duty? (+), Vlad, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 14:08:24
          • Re: But wouldn't the Kia cost 24k with 100% duty? (+), fsik, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 22:27:10
      • Why would anyone buy a Cadavalier? n/m, Noel, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 10:19:23
        • Re: Why would anyone buy a Cadavalier?, Scott Paterson , Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:51:43
          • I know, I know, I'm just being cynical! ;^), Noel, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 13:18:31
            • Cobalt?, Erik W, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 19:39:10
      • Cavalier... is it already there??, JimBlake , Thu, 2 Dec 2004 10:11:53
  • Very simply stated (not full details) - tax & tariffs.., elliott, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 07:40:01
    • CDN Coke, Trev, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:06:43
      • Re: mmmm... true, pure cane sugar... I feel like Homer, elliott, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:31:28
      • Re: how about Bolivian/Columbian coke? n/m, t_mokes, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:27:42
        • that is good too, steveC, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 18:14:57
    • BTW - The US isn't the only one to do this... nm, elliott, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 07:41:17
  • Cheap is a relative term, what do you suggest ...., TKC, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 07:38:46
    • Re: also you got to consider the loss of import goods, t_mokes, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 10:55:41
      • Does not compute in global economy, a lot things...., TKC, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 18:09:46
        • Re: Does not compute in global economy, a lot things...., t_mokes, Fri, 3 Dec 2004 08:15:34
          • Many countries have their monetary systems pecked..., TKC, Fri, 3 Dec 2004 12:26:13
            • Re: you're right..., t_mokes, Fri, 3 Dec 2004 14:40:46
  • Re: Dollar down? (+), compaqted, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 06:49:59
    • Re: Dollar down? (+), Noel, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 08:33:47 <-- Viewing This Message

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