[Paul Ross]

We have a $12 trillion economy.They have a $1.5 trillion economy and exported less than $200 billion to us in 2004. You have a strange definition of debt ridden beggar.

No he doesn't. Check this:

Actually, China could already be the world's third largest economy when based on more realistic purchasing price equivalents. Some international groups (including the International Monetary Fund), and number of U.S. financial analysts too, think that the Yuan is undervalued by a factor of four. If so, the implications of this are significant. It implies that the size of China's economy is really $6 trillion, rather than $1.5 trillion. It helps explain why they hold $620 billion of U.S. paper. So does your postulate really have any credible legs anymore? No.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Actually, China could already be the world's third largest economy when based on more realistic purchasing price equivalents.

PPP is good for measuring standard of living, why is PPP more realistic when discussing size of economy?

As I understand it we produce 8 times more goods and services priced in dollars than they do, is that wrong?

Nice chart (couldn't you get one from E.P.I.?), that makes us a debt ridden beggar?