[Cronos]

The U.S. economy grows the GDP of India every year

Not quite -- the US real growth rate in 2007 was 2.2% i.e. $0.27 trillion. And, yes, both are waaaay waaay behind the US and both need to work at full steam, continuously for a couple of decades to come CLOSE in terms of overall GDP. But they will come close as they try to improve themselves --> for both these countries, their real competition is not against the US or against each other, their real fight is to bring out millions from poverty.

China brought nearly 400 million out of poverty in the two decades from 1980 to 2000. however, there are still more than half a BILLION Chinese who are dirt poor --> and the same or larger number of Indians.

all this growth is just to bring people out of mind-numbing poverty, not to compete with the US for top jock position

[LS]

Since everyone is throwing stats around, how about these:

India is already the world's largest English-speaking country (i.e., highest total # of English speakers).

China, by 2010, will have the world's largest Christian population.

[jveritas]

China brought nearly 400 million out of poverty in the two decades from 1980 to 2000. however, there are still more than half a BILLION Chinese who are dirt poor --> and the same or larger number of Indians.

Even those 400 million who were brought out of poverty in China are still extremely, extremely poor according to our standards of living. 90% of Chinese and Indians live in a very shocking poverty if we measure it according to our standards of living. The vast majority of the remaining 10% do not even qualify to be considered "poor" according to our standards of living. Probably 3% of the population of China and India live somewhere from "poor" to "very rich" according to our standards of living.