If you told the U.S. economic leaders 100 years ago that less than 5% of the population would be involved in agriculture in the future, they would have predicted famine and economic collapse. Instead, through technology, that 5% not only meets most of the needs of our country, but feeds a good chunk of the rest of the world as well.
As far as the trade balance issue goes, if this is such a bid deal, I must be in terrible personal financial trouble. Ya' see, I shop at my local grocery store a couple of times a week for food. I give them currency for the food. I sell nothing to the grocery store. My trade imbalance with them is horrendous! I must file for bankruptcy tomorrow!
If I have to listen to one more doom-sayer predict the economic end of the U.S., I think I'll barf.
By the way, what was that Chinese-based fast food place I ate at last week? Oh, yeah, there are no Chinese based fast food restaurants. What about that great Mexican blockbuster movie? How about that Indian company producing the operating system that runs on over 90% of the world's computers?
I'm not saying that there aren't countries that do things better than us, but I am saying that the U.S. has an impressive track record in leading the world in innovation that keeps us a world leader. I would say that bio-tech, nano-tech, alternative fuels, exotic materials, and anything Dean Kaman is working on are potential earth shakers.
Let's hear it for continued American Hegemony!