[moonshot925]

“Problems with that analysis are the exchange rate”

I know, which is why the figures are adjusted to the Purchasing Power Parity(PPP) in Geary–Khamis dollars(international dollars).

“one production of useful things, the other debt and spending by our American political/regulator class”

What useful things does China produce?

[EEGator]

Poisoned toys, poisoned dog food, poisoned toothpaste, crap furniture, etc...

[familyop]

"What useful things does China produce?"

In the way of low priced hardware, everything that our American populace needs to survive fairly comfortably for a decade or more without generating revenues, after our misguided leaders' debt debacle hits the fan. Briggs and Stratton engines, heavy equipment, just about everything. The Chinese small overhead valve engines are better than the Briggs and others, BTW. Having been chucked out of steel work in the early '80s by the rotting elite drunks and queers in management then (not to mention the slumlord unions they were in bed with), I've run and rebuilt both kinds of engines (and more) since.

More to the point and origin of the whole, IMO, we're morally bankrupt. Every political group and associated NGO is evil. So are their local and national socialist dependents, sitting, plotting, scheming, regulating and sucking up debt/revenues.

We need the economic dump. It will be like a bath.