[nathanbedford]

The moral of this story is to hold to the first principle that has worked so well for so long for so many: mercantilism.

Great Britain with its Empire and Commonwealth, United States variously in its history, Japan, China and, certainly, Germany have all prospered as they have engaged in mercantilism.

Germany will prosper again as it has miraculously prospered in the past because it is an economy grounded in the idea of producing value added and selling it to less advanced economies. China is the recent champion in this game but America is becoming the less advanced economy that will soon run out of resources even to play the subservient role of consumer.

[laplata]

“.... but America is becoming the less advanced economy that will soon run out of resources even to play the subservient role of consumer”.

That is powerful, scary and true.

[mac_truck]

Germany will prosper again as it has miraculously prospered in the past because it is an economy grounded in the idea of producing value added and selling it to less advanced economies. China is the recent champion in this game but America is becoming the less advanced economy that will soon run out of resources even to play the subservient role of consumer.

Well done...you've captured the smug arrogance mixed with a total lack of self awareness that Europeans have toward the United States perfectly.