[staytrue]

We exported like crazy in those years. That's how we became the world's largest creditor nation. Plus, we imported little because the rest of the world could produce next to nothing due to a destroyed infrastucture and manufacturing base.

[Red Jones]

Well, I will admit that you have a point. But the stats show that both exports and imports were a much smaller percentage of our economy back then than today. My main point is that there's no excuse for backward movement. I will admit that the 1950's were a special time partly for the reasons you mentioned. Also partly because we had relatively little immigration from 1925 to 1965.