[valkyry1]

We might not be exporting much, but those industries have not been abandoned.

I think if there was a national will and leadership, those industries could be spun up fairly fast /relatively to the rest of the world)

I think that some of what we see is a manifestation of a stealth economic war against us, for example even if the low US dollar is taken out of the equation, I tend to doubt that Venezuela et al are charging their friends for a barrel of oil as much as what we are paying.

What do you think?

[dennisw]

I think that some of what we see is a manifestation of a stealth economic war against us, for example even if the low US dollar is taken out of the equation, I tend to doubt that Venezuela et al are charging their friends for a barrel of oil as much as what we are paying.

Iran and Venezuela often sell oil at discounted prices to "friendly" nations. It's a tool of foreign policy

USA and Europe always pay full price