[attiladhun2]

You are obviously too young to remember the period between roughly 1945-1960 when the US was, essentially, economically self-sufficient. Everything you bought whether it was a TV set, radio, automobile, toy, clothing, footwear, home appliance, flatware etc etc etc was MADE IN THE USA. Only exception would have been the diamond in the engagement ring you offered to your girlfriend after the sock hop was over!

I am not too young and you are forgetting one little fact about that era. Both the indusrial bases of both Europe and Japan had been destroyed during WWII and this country was untouched by the war and benefited greatly from new industries, such as aerospace and electronics, created by the necessity of war. In other words, this country was practically the only one in the free world with an intact industrial plant during much of the post-war period you mentioned. Using this country's unique position then as proof of the viability of autarky ignores the fact that we could not possibly continue to possess that unique economic position once Europe and Japan rebuilt their industrial bases.

[katyusha]

--Using this country's unique position then as proof of the viability of autarky ignores the fact that we could not possibly continue to possess that unique economic position once Europe and Japan rebuilt their industrial bases.--

Why not? The point is that the USA was able to supply just about everything consumers and industry needed, with the exception of some precious gems, oddball minerals for aerospace, and some ancillary food items. If that's not autarky, its pretty darn close.