Is America turning isolationist or being isolated?

[p_p_man]

Quote from the New York Times Friday 28 June 2002

"China Races to Replace U.S. as Economic Power in Asia
By JANE PERLEZ

DJAKARTA, Indonesia, June 27 — From South Korea to Indonesia, China is rapidly strengthening its economic presence across Asia, gobbling up foreign investment and chipping away at the United States' position as the region's economic engine.

As it buys up goods, parts and raw materials from its neighbors as never before, China has accompanied its new heft with diplomatic efforts to assure them that it wants to offer cooperation, not competition. Many have rushed to China's embrace and are nimbly shifting their economic alliances, particularly as the United States makes its way through only a tentative economic recovery."

And with Europe coming up fast on the outside has the USA lost the economic edge?

ppman

 

[koalabear]

Either way is fine with me.

 

[p_p_man]

Either way is fine with me.

Yes, I'm beginning to think that way myself. Then maybe we can all sleep nights again.

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

Sounds like a usual dish of wishful thinking from the PP.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Does it really matter? I mean really matter?

 

[Gamelover221]

Don't worry about it too much. It's just like New Kids on the Block...new things are popular for a while, but people will stick with the old faithful in the long run.

Besides that though...any idea what China's savings rate is? I don't know of any country that has a lower savings rate than we do. That's the main reason we have such a strong economy...spend spend spend.

 

[cybergirly]

Does it really matter? I mean really matter?

No, not really. The world economy is what is important now. It doesn't really matter which countries economy is stronger.

 

[p_p_man]

Besides that though...any idea what China's savings rate is? I don't know of any country that has a lower savings rate than we do. That's the main reason we have such a strong economy...spend spend spend.

<coughs discreetly>

 

[p_p_man]

No, not really. The world economy is what is important now. It doesn't really matter which countries economy is stronger.

But it does. At the moment confidence in America's way of doing business and her 'rules of accounting and auditing' have take some major blows. And where, only a few short weeks ago, other countries were pouring money into the US economy they're now taking it out as fast as possible.

If your consumer spending and investment slows down much further then your economy will almost go into meltdown and implode. Nobody wants that.

But by the time you recover it may be too late to regain your previous economic position on the world market.

And we're still all waiting to see what other bastion of corporate America is going to be hit by a financial scandal and accusations of fraud. If I was a young person in the States working for a large company I would make sure that my pension is entirely separate from that company's accounting system and success indicator.

ppman

 

[cybergirly]

That's why it doesn't matter. Most of us, I hope, have certainly learned what the word diversify means. The economys of the whole world are tied in to each other, to the point now that they can not be seperated without a major financial catastrophe of world wide porportions. With so many US companys having, offices, manufacturing plants, ect.. spread worldwide and so many foreign companies doing the same in the U.S. it will all balance out in the end.

I work for a large Telecommunications company, and I certainly do not, nor have I ever had all of my 401k in company stock. Yes, I've recently lost money in company stock, but I've gained in other areas.

 

[SINthysist]

Both.

We've about had it with you...

 

[p_p_man]

Both.

We've about had it with you...

Oh Yeah???

Well we've just about had it with you too...

Bloody jumped up ex-colonialists...

 

[SINthysist]

Bloody wanking former colonial masters living on the Dole...

 

[p_p_man]

Arseholed, immature, naive, bullying bunch of hypocrites...

living in a fool's paradise.

 

[SINthysist]

Look who's turned a lovely shade of Jealous Green...

 

[p_p_man]

Yah! Sucks!

Boo to you too!!

 

[SINthysist]

Boo Hoo.

I'm going home! And I'm taking my ball, and my soldiers, and my nukes...

 

[Susano]

Thanks, guys. That was the first good laugh I'd had in a while, I needed it.

 

[SINthysist]

Di Nada. We aim to please...

 

[p_p_man]

Boo Hoo.

I'm going home! And I'm taking my ball, and my soldiers, and my nukes...

Nanananana!!!

Hey and here's your CocaCola, Big Mac, Walmart, Bush and Anderson...

 

[p_p_man]

Thanks, guys. That was the first good laugh I'd had in a while, I needed it.

Take a bow SINthysist...

It was your idea.

 

[SINthysist]

How are you on your modern slavic languages?

 

[Ishmael]

This is funny. Really.

In the 70's it was the powerhouse European economy that was to be the US's downfall, particularly West Germany. Then in the 80's it was the Japanese that were going to bury us.

Trying to make long term prognostications on cyclical economic events is like trying to predict next years weather. Your chances of being wrong are much greater than your chances of being right.

Ishmael

 

[p_p_man]

How are you on your modern slavic languages?

Ya gavorichevi pa Russki, medlenno...[phonetic]

ppman

 

[SINthysist]

Bullshit. We all know next year is gonna be warmer. The stock market is going to go even higher. And p_p_ will be proven right for once...