[agere_contra]

This is money in current accounts? Well no wonder.

It is NOT a measure of net worth.

[pgyanke]

True. However, it’s undeniable that we are borrowing ourselves deeper into the hole while providing aid to countries with positive assets.

[BohDaThone]

"current account" means trade balance. If we buy a pound of copper from Hellholeistan, they have a "surplus" and we have a "deficit." (and we have the copper and they have a piece of paper). That's all it means.

If the US is a good place to invest, and the Emir of Hellholeistan invests here, that is the flip side of the transaction. If no one ever wants to invest there, they'll always run a "surplus."

The trade balance can be important, but not just in a simple-minded plus or minus sense. The US ran big "deficits" all during our periods of most explosive growth -- because people wanted to invest here.