[A. Pole]

Buchanan isn't an economist. Those who are INCLUDING the new Fed Chair, say the economy is humming right along.

Exactly! As Alfonso Nunez de Castro said a while ago:

"Let London manufacture those fine fabrics of hers to her heart's content; let Holland her chambrays; Florence her cloth; the Indies their beaver and vicuna; Milan her brocade, Italy and Flanders their linens...so long as our capital can enjoy them; the only thing it proves is that all nations train their journeymen for Madrid, and that Madrid is the queen of Parliaments, for all the world serves her and she serves nobody."
(Prominent Spanish official - Alfonso Nunez de Castro in 1675)

[Toddsterpatriot]

"Let London manufacture those fine fabrics of hers to her heart's content; let Holland her chambrays; Florence her cloth; the Indies their beaver and vicuna; Milan her brocade, Italy and Flanders their linens...

So your point is that instead of doing the things and making the products they're good at, countries should do the things and make the products that they're bad at?