[TChris]

It’s not the net negative trade balance with China (or any one country) that is worrysome... it is the net negative trade BALANCE that is a problem in the long haul.

It's only a problem insofar as individuals are in debt. That's a problem not of economic policy, but of the cumulative personal finances of buyers. No government economic policy can fix bad consumer spending habits.

The risk, and its consequences, should remain with the creditors who extend credit to shaky debtors.

[Nervous Tick]

>> The risk, and its consequences, should remain with the creditors who extend credit to shaky debtors.

With all due respect, you seem to be saying that it’s OK for the US to continue our current role of “debtor nation” ad infinitum — subject not to any moral or sound economic reason for doing otherwise, but subject only to finding a steady stream of lenders willing to lend.

Alrighty then. Here’s where I get off the bus.