[Cacophonous]

So we were worse off when we exported more than we imported? When we made our own goods? When other people paid us to make things for them?

How did that make us worse off?

[Texas_Dawg]

So we were worse off when we exported more than we imported? When we made our own goods? When other people paid us to make things for them? How did that make us worse off?</i?

Do you know what our GDP was then? Do you know what the average income was? Do you know how much the average car cost as a percentage of the average household income?

Yes, economically speaking, we were much worse off then. Which isn't to say we were ever as bad as some other places, but we are much, much better economically now. And getting better.