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Trade Deficit has crippled the United States of America

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by malorn, Mar 10, 2011.

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  1. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Why is the trade deficit not the headline news on every network every night? The vast majority of the current problems in the US can be traced either directly or indirectly to the United States staggering negative balance of payments over the last 35 years. Every government deficit, many social problems, and the current jobs and standard of living malaise are results of our trade policies.

    Someone give me a reason this monumental problem is barely talked about?
     
    #1 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
  2. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    It appears trolls do not die. Malorn, PM tpfun. You should stick together.

    Why the trade deficit ?
    1. Americans are too stupid to restrain their petroleum habit
    2. Inferior manufacturing quality cannot overcome the price of importation.
     
    #2 SageBrush, Mar 10, 2011
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    mal! where u been man? political hot potato. you won't get elected talking trade.
     
    #3 bisco, Mar 10, 2011
  4. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    First of all the petroleum portion of the trade deficit is certainly nowhere near the majority of the deficit. On the second point, are you saying that Chinese manufacturing is of a higher standard than that of the US? Even if that were the case, the price of importation is kept artificially low by foreign governments.

    The economic crisis in this country is getting to the point that I always predicted: Folks have saved money by buying at Wal-Mart(to generalize) but now they have lost their job(manufacturing, etc) or are finding their wages and/or benefits are being cut(public sector).
     
    #4 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's all true, but talking about it won't get u elected. who do you think is pouring cash into the campaign coffers?
     
    #5 bisco, Mar 10, 2011
  6. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    I agree! Why do we let it happen? It is economic rape.
     
    #6 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
  7. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    News is not for information or education. It's for entertainment. Fiscal accounting that causes slow incremental erosion of our society is not entertaining.

    Let me juxtapose 2 headlines for you.

    Flash! Smoking prematurely kills over 400,000 Americans every year. 250,000 of these deaths are through coronary artery disease or through cerebrovascular.....snore...zzzzz....asleep yet? Here's a funny video to emphasize the


    Baby laughing is adorable. Please click here to


    Guess which video has 165 thousand hits and which one hase 169 million hits?
     
    #7 burritos, Mar 10, 2011
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the hampster one was gross.
     
    #8 bisco, Mar 10, 2011
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    because most people vote for the person who tells them what they want to hear. balancing the trade deficit would cause short term pain. most humanoids don't think beyond the short term.
     
    #9 bisco, Mar 10, 2011
  10. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    The attention span of many Americans is not a strength, but I think that necessity is the mother of invention and in this case figuring out what the hell has been done to the US. Yes for many years Americans were abole to fill the gaps in their economic outlook by borrowing against the over-inflated value of their home, that is over.
     
    #10 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
  11. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    This is probably the same reason Charlie Sheen gets 19,804 hits in Google News, but North Korea only gets 9,455 (no quotes around either term).
     
    #11 Stev0, Mar 10, 2011
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there is no neccesity. 90% of the population is working. they don't need no stinkin home equity.
     
    #12 bisco, Mar 10, 2011
  13. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    They may have a job, but their "real wages" are shrinking, they are heavily in debt, over taxed, and beginning to wonder why.
     
    #13 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
  14. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    Why is Charlie Sheen on the "news" when there are so many real problems in the world. If he wants to self-destruct and his family won't help him, then so be it.
     
    #14 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
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  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    $100 a barrel for oil
    10^7 barrels imported a day (55% of use)

    Every decade: $USD 3.65 TRILLION Dollars.

    Look in the mirror, Malorn. YOU are the problem.
     
    #15 SageBrush, Mar 10, 2011
  16. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    I say good.
     
    #16 burritos, Mar 10, 2011
  17. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Just as a stopped clock is correct twice a day, every once in awhile you post something I agree with.
     
    #17 Stev0, Mar 10, 2011
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  18. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    News reporting today = TRASH. It is not like I rememberwhen new was NEWS! Back then, Walter Cronkite or the Huntley- Brinkley days of news reporting was real indepth and they did their homework. Also back during that era, there were 3 major channels: ABC, CBS, and NBC.

    Back then you got news that was informative, educational, and provided for a good family discussion.

    It is a far cry from the constant "rubbish" we get bombarded every 10 mins today. I have to say I don't watch the news very much any more.

    DBCassidy
     
    #18 dbcassidy, Mar 10, 2011
  19. caffeinekid

    caffeinekid Duct Tape Extraordinaire

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    No. The trade deficit is just an indicator. All roads lead to the method of exchange of property, goods and services.
     
    #19 caffeinekid, Mar 10, 2011
  20. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    I know it surely feels better when you blame oil consumption but the facts state otherwise:


    US trade with Saudi Arabia over the last 10 years:

    Exports: $81 Billion Imports: $269 Billion Deficit: $188 billion

    China over same time period:

    Exports: $493 billion Imports: $2.69 Trillion(yes trillion!) Deficit: $2.197 Trillion

    Japan

    Exports:$566 billion Imports: $1,283 Trillion Deficit: $717 Billion

    Do I want to import oil? Of course not, but that is not where the big money is going.
     
    #20 malorn, Mar 10, 2011
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