[Willie Green]

ping

[trebb]

I guess it might also be nice to mention that we have the strongest, most vibrant, economy in decades. The fact that it could (and that's only theoretical) be much better doesn't make slamming what we have productive.

[Brilliant]

The US has had a large trade deficit on and off for decades. It's largely the result of oil imports. It's more a problem for our trading partners than it is for us. If the dollar declines, then our exports will become cheaper to them, and their imports will become more expensive to us.

[Toddsterpatriot]

High and rising trade deficits tax economic growth. Specifically, each dollar spent on imports that is not matched by a dollar of exports reduces domestic demand and employment.

How does this work exactly? Each billion in imports costs how many US jobs? Each billion in trade deficits costs how many US jobs? Should be easy for a professor to quantify.