[dfwgator]

I agree with Bush. We cannot wall off our economy any longer. It's a new world. Compete or fall by the wayside. It's harsh but it's the reality.

The US had a great run, because of two things. First, WWII left most of the industrialized world in shambles, and the US had it's infrastructure intact. It took years for Europe and Asia to recover. Also, most of the rest of the world was engaged in that failed experiment called "socialism" and other centrally-planned economies. We ate their lunch.

Fast forward to the end of the Cold War. Now the world starts to wake up and get that capitalism is indeed the way to go. So, now the gap between the US and the rest of the world has finally started to close a bit.

But here is the good news. The US still has the freest economy in the world, and as long as it does, we will remain dominant. It doesn't mean it's not going to be painful at times, I myself have experienced some of that pain. But Americans never backed down from competition, and they won't back down now. And we know that messing with the invisible hand always leads to disastrous results.

[BW2221]

"But Americans never backed down from competition, and they won't back down now. And we know that messing with the invisible hand always leads to disastrous results."

SOUNDS LIKE A FOOTBALL PRE-GAME PEP TALK

[hedgetrimmer]

Now the world starts to wake up and get that capitalism is indeed the way to go.

The flaw in your argument is that most of the world is STILL engaged in socialism, communism and totalitarianism. The difference is that "free trade" is making THEM wealthy, not US.

[A. Pole]

But here is the good news. The US still has the freest economy in the world

Hwo do you measure it? Do you have some data?