US dollar in its death throes?

[Weevus]

Not to sound like a dumbass, but what does this mean to the average US consumer who just buys things in the US?

 

[dark penguin]

As long as Canada has that 25% GST/PST, things will still be cheaper in the states.



PS: The weak USD might Save Canadian Sports Franchises.......

It's 15% here in Ontario...but it's still a fucking killer, especially if you're buying a car or any large ticket item. You might as well bend over while you sign the check, because you're pretty well getting fucked up the ass.

 

[mainman]

Not to sound like a dumbass, but what does this mean to the average US consumer who just buys things in the US?

Because those things we buy are not made in the U.S. Cheap china made shit is no big deal to your wallet but those high end electronic item are even despite the fact that those too may be made in China and etc.

 

[wizkid007]

I wouldnt see this as such a problem if the US actually invested in its own social/economic system. Strong foundations provide the basis for the dollar to go up. Yet useless wars, lavish spending and a unfocused agenda are eroding the value of the economy from right under their feet.

Im not sure what the united states has on the other parts of the world now in terms of anything. Immigration is down, agriculture is down, manufacturing is down etc. Hell they cant even get around to fixing whats left after katrina.

All they have is their foolish pride left. And even that will go eventually when the ramifications from there current actions finally catch up with them.

 

[lithy]

Gold standard please.

 

[td741]

It's 15% here in Ontario...but it's still a fucking killer, especially if you're buying a car or any large ticket item. You might as well bend over while you sign the check, because you're pretty well getting fucked up the ass.

It's at 14% now... GST went down to 6%. :P

 

[norton9478]

Not to sound like a dumbass, but what does this mean to the average US consumer who just buys things in the US?

1. Increased interest on loans/mortgages.
2. Once China Floats it's Yaun, everything at walmart will shoot up in price.

 

[norton9478]

Gold standard please.

I don't follow the Yellow Brick Road...

 

[lithy]

I don't follow the Yellow Brick Road...

I'm willing to include Silver and Platinum as well, but we do need some sort of hard standard.

Unlike some in this thread, I don't think that inflation/currency devaluation is common knowledge to most Americans. Gas is only expensive because 'terrorists' still have it all.

Without a hard standard, the government just prints more money to fund the billions of dollars in legislation passed every year. Devaluing the purchasing power of the money in your pocket.

 

[norton9478]

I'm willing to include Silver and Platinum as well, but we do need some sort of hard standard.

As long as we force everybody to Buy Oil in USD, we have a semi-hard standard.

 

[dark penguin]

It's at 14% now... GST went down to 6%. :P

Whoops...yep, you're right. I was out of the country for most of '06 and part of this year, so I missed a lot of the hoopla with that.

 

[norton9478]

For the record...

I don't think that we should tax income, profits or sales...

We should only tax pollution...

It's Win-Win

 

[DevilRedeemed]

hello boom bust economies

globalisation is playing it's part here. US should take a more isolationist stance - atleast for a couple of decades - and then come back to the table. but it owes so much and depends so much on other economies, maybe it's too late.
or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about?
probably some of both.

 

[norton9478]

hello boom bust economies

globalisation is playing it's part here. US should take a more isolationist stance - atleast for a couple of decades - and then come back to the table. but it owes so much and depends so much on other economies, maybe it's too late.
or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about?
probably some of both.

Isolationsim is never the answer...

Last time we did that, Europe decided to commit Suicide.....

And the time before that.

People in all those fucked up countries don't hate us when we fix shit up after an earthquake

 

[ki_atsushi]

Gold standard please.

There isn't enough gold on earth to save us now.

 

[DevilRedeemed]

Isolationsim is never the answer...

Last time we did that, Europe decided to commit Suicide.....

And the time before that.

People in all those fucked up countries don't hate us when we fix shit up after an earthquake

well.. you mean World War 2? talk about a shot in the arm for US interests in the world. war is good for business sometimes. if victory is clear cut and you can devastate utterly your opponent. otherwise.. what's the point?
a little isolationism to gather one's thoughts is never a bad idea. my country should do it - it will never happen in a million years though, lest we forget this place is full of Argentines. a fatal flaw indeed.


the rise of the european union (it could be become a sort of super power tomorow right?), China and India, with the possible emergence of other countries (Brazil), the US in it's post cold war identity crisis should feel a little heat.

 

[lithy]

There isn't enough gold on earth to save us now.

That's the point.

Nearly fixed supply with an expectable annual increase in supply.

Of course it could bomb out like aluminum did once we figured out how to extract it from the ore, but I don't see that happening, gold has been used since the beginnings of history and before as currency.

 

[RAINBOW PONY]

It's at 14% now... GST went down to 6%. :P

Yep.

 

[norton9478]

That's the point.

Nearly fixed supply with an expectable annual increase in supply.

Of course it could bomb out like aluminum did once we figured out how to extract it from the ore, but I don't see that happening, gold has been used since the beginnings of history and before as currency.

You can talk all you want, but tieing your currency/economy to any one commodity is stupid.

 

[RAINBOW PONY]

It's gold, Jerry, GOLD!

 

[lithy]

You can talk all you want, but tieing your currency/economy to any one commodity is stupid.

But is tying it to no commodity better?

 

[RAINBOW PONY]

But is tying it to no commodity better?

Then at least you know you're screwed, instead of holding out for hope that doesn't exist.

 

[Piratero]

Being an American means having a constant source of bad news crammed down your throat…

We hear about the war everyday…we hear about the crash of the mortgage market everyday…we hear about the flood of illegal Mexicans bringing this country to it’s knees everyday…we hear about the insane soaring healthcare costs everyday…we hear about this stupid stone throwing presidential race everyday…

What’s another log on the fire?

Out country is going to shit and we are constantly reminded of it…

Illegal Mexicans? Don't you mean undocumented immigrants?

It's almost like as if you're blaming the Mexicans for the reason why this country is coming to its knees.

That is all I have to contribute to this thread.

 

[RAINBOW PONY]

Here we go, a pissed off mexican enters the fray.

 

[Piratero]

Here we go, a pissed off mexican enters the fray.

Damn right.