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"Yes, in fact they needed a cash infusion to maintain their standards of living after their cheesy merchantalistic/nationalist ideals began to cause their society to crumble."

Same mistake we're making with our addiction to foreign oil, and cheap consumer goods.

I'm not for discontinuing all trade with China. We definitely need to be smarter about our current trade agreement. Negotiating these agreements is within the purview of the Executive branch. I'm not blaming Dubya for starting it. Slick Willie took care of that. I'm disappointed that Bush has not addressed the problem, and seems to be encouraging MOTS.

If you consider Patriotism 'cheesy', you're already lost in my book.

Nationalism and isolation are cheesy. Patriotism is neither of those. Patriotism is the belief in freedom and the willingness to defend it at the ultimate cost to yourself. I, Sir, have gone that route.

From May of 1989 to May of 1999, I served on active duty as a United States Marine - one that has a Combat Action Ribbon and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). And on just this last Friday, I again, joined the Armed Services of America as an Army Reservist. I think that I can safely consider myself a Patriot, Sir - one that can understand the benefits of capitalism even though conventional wisdom and sentiments often cloud the issue.