For the United States to continue our present course where we act as the worlds primary consumers and China acts as the primary producers puts the U.S. in a most precarious position. When you further consider that much of our consuming is done via credit (trade deficit) and much of that credit is financed by China then to continue on present course seems most foolish.

China is currently the supplier to the world, especially the U.S.A. when this relationship is in jeopardy, then we will have a problem with this global force.

China needs US's cooperation as much as US needs China's. When you can't beat somebody, you join him/her. At least China helps to hold inflation down in US. Let China has those US dollars, they are just papers which the US can make them close to useless anytime US wants. China may end up the bigger fool than US is.

China needs US's cooperation as much as US needs China's. When you can't beat somebody, you join him/her. At least China helps to hold inflation down in US. Let China has those US dollars, they are just papers which the US can make them close to useless anytime US wants. China may end up the bigger fool than US is.

Seems to be a global relationship of consumerism...blah, blah... are we still talking about this? Just exactly what actions- if any- can one take? I wish I had better access to some of the things China provides. Likewise, I wish we could produce some of the things here in the good ole USofA that I need to turn those types of markup profits. I hear Florida is trying/positioning(heck, may be) to be the "manufacturing mecca" of the US. Forget the other states,how they gonna match China?

Are we seeing the big picture? Their exports are received by us through specific vendors, (anyone remember the earlier discussion on Wal-Mart?). It's funny to see so many people concerned about China's exports, and at the same time argue the strength of low cost consumer goods in local neighborhoods. Let's look at this from a global perspective:

China's greatest advantage is it's low cost labour, which it has a great abundance of. Any North American or European country would be hard pressed to compete at the same level as China for global exports. The solution to maintaining a healthy, balanced economy is then not to concern ourselves with the "export juggernaut". Instead, look at what they CAN'T do. Top precession engineering and manufacturing parts, anything requiring educated labour, etc.

Of course, an alternative would be to take a more proactive position on promoting standards of living in countries worldwide, (including China), which would help to drive up wages of unskilled labour to more humane ranges. That, of course, would require us all to suck it in the next time we go to our local stores to shop.