Diegetics

So basically what the rest of the world is thinking is that now that America can no longer spend borrowed money on meddling in international affairs that the US's power abroad will reduce?

No shit Sherlock. We should've been strategically withdrawing from global affairs since 1991. It's too bad it takes a crisis to roll back that sort of thing.

Yes, you are right, but these issues have been on the table, nearly 4 years, nothing new about recent events. American have plenty of cards to play. Getting fiscal house in order (thank you GOP), now got to work on friendly business environment. We need to make USA first pick for businesses of all kinds. Blue States not helping, California sort of a bad Ayn Rand novel, but plenty of good Red Stated to choose from. If we stay on the GOP course, things will get better. Rising tides, boats lifted. -JFK.

Also, like you say, for nearly 30 years (Reagan) America only game in town. Looking back, not good for everybody. Too much investment, too much debt. Everybody needs to cool off, diversify. America should not be only place, bad for us too. More players, ok.

Sure Az, that is what I meant to say. But two parties in that party, borrower/lender. Foreigners knew they were buying BMW/jet ski. Time for re-evaluations.

Yeah, because Intel and Apple are doing SO horribly. It's all pretty amusing.

For too long governments concerns were making firms profitable and offering consumers a large number of goods at the lowest price. For a while it seemed that allowing firms to move abroad and importing those goods was the best way to achieve both goals. People didn't want to see that such a development would end up creating both unemployment and a persistent trade deficit. Sooner or later some thing would have to give. Loss of productive capacity at home, loss of jobs, lower incomes were the results of a short sighted policy. Economists and politicians refused to understand what for me is one of the basic principles of economics: TRADE MUST BE BALANCED!!! And a sufficient industrial and agricultural basis must be maintained. The US economy would be a lot better off if Walmart sold only American goods, instead of Chinese, even if that meant higher consumer prices. I'm not defending blind protectionism. Trade is good and should be fostered. As long as it is balanced.

true, ive been waiting for the moment when rubbish tips became resources myself

still, for a while yet and for things like organic plastics replacements that use crops, the "country lottery" will still provide advantages to some that others dont have.