[gipper81]

Define zero-sum, then. Is there a generally accepted definition here or is this kind of like one of those floating point concepts?

[dennisw]

My crude definition of zero sum for the USA: Since women usually have to work to have enough money to raise 2-4 children and educate them through college, we are doing no better than we did 40 years ago. When women could stay at home and raise the kids.

I see less and real wealth being created in the United States via agriculture, mining and manufacturing. More and more illusory wealth being created by paper shuffling, Wall Street schemes and incurring mountains of foreign and domestic debts. We are sliding backwards into the muck despite the veneer of hi tech flash that blinds and seduces us. Actually we are doing worse than zero sum here.