[Just like the yuppies of yesteryear, the U.S. economy now has an illusion of prosperity that will last only until the gov't.s printing presses come to a halt. Real wealth can only be created by manufacturing, anything else is just a poker game with the chips being continually shuffled around the table.]
So true. If everyone who obtained the high standard of living in the 90's had to pay it off today, we would have hordes of people in the streets. That is another factor that makes it look as if we are doing great with free trade - people and the government are living off credit cards to keep up the charade.
Only one condition would support your argument. The Ameican worker is incapable of change and or higher skilled labor. We simply do not possess the intellectual capacity to offer superior service to the world. We cannot strive for anything greater than punching holes in metal.