[Alberta's Child]

As soon as I see comparisons between the U.S. and Japan in an article like this, I tend to question the author's credibility.

Japan offers a good lesson for the U.S., but not for the reasons the author uses. There are really only two ways for an economy to grow in real terms -- increases in population and increases in productivity. Japan's real problem is that the stagnating population growth has resulted in a deflationary situation where the agin population simply cannot be supported by their younger demographic groups, not only in terms of the cost of social services but in terms of reduced consumer consumption.

[Dec31,1999]

Good point. Japan doesn't allow immigration to any great degree, so they are not increasing their numbers as much as is necessary to sustain real estate prices. There is a certain wisdom to their approach, however. Compared to European and American standards nearly all neighborhoods are desireable in Japan.

[FITZ]

increases in population and increases in productivity

Population growth alone doesn't help an economy ---definitely not when the growth is in the welfare class. Here we have have increases in population at the same time jobs are leaving the country. Even in the good jobs what good is there when an American is laid off so an H1-B visa immigrant is hired to take the job? Good jobs are the answer to a bad economy.

[snooker]

>>>As soon as I see comparisons between the U.S. and Japan in an article like this, I tend to question the author's credibility.

Yep, using this socialist government managed country as a gauge of anything is way off the mark.

Remember when libs (during Reagan's terms) thought deficits were no problem at all. And Clinton submitted budget projections with deficits as far as the mind could imagine, all over $200 B a year. He also showed the tax rate going to 85% across the board. Consequences of fewer and fewer people paying more and more of the tax bill.

I think I had a brain fart just trying to follow this article's circular reasoning.

But the bottom line seems to be Republicans are going to blow up everything. Does that sum it up? Just look at how many trees it took him to say that.

bill