[investigateworld]

Only protectionists think merchandise goods trade deficits matter! None of them stop and think that they PERSONALLY run such deficits with dozens of people - the grocer, the gas supplier, the butcher, the shoe salesman, etcc.

Kind of basic, but at the end of the month or some other financial reporting period, you'd better not have a deficit of income vs. out go.

Otherwise, you would have to borrow at market rates to finance that lifestyle.

Oh how much do we owe the Chicoms/Japan?

I know the free trade crowd is bad at math, but it can be found on Google.

There is no free lunch!

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Please explain how the trade deficit - a private enterprise metric - is related to the budget deficit and the national debt - a Government metric.

Once you realize those two are completely isolated from each other (for we have had trade surpluses and trade deficits for decades, yet the national debt and the national deficit has always been) then you will understand why a trade deficit is irrelevant.

[1rudeboy]

Kind of basic, but at the end of the month or some other financial reporting period, you'd better not have a deficit of income vs. out go.

Your grocery store issues you credit? Is this kind of like that Saturday Night Live skit where Garrett Morris(?) observes how people interact when there aren't black people around?