What people don't seem to realize (or at least don't mention) is that it's no longer just about the national economy. It's a world economy. Countries like China have people who do not live nearly as well as what we have come to expect for ourselves. Their average Joe (or Chang if you prefer) often works long hours each week for less than most of us make in a day or even an hour sometimes. When I was in the Philippines, I saw what being poor really is. We think being poor means that we can't get that car we really wanted or the speakers we were drooling over. Poor there means skipping meals. Doing without health care. Living without electricity or running water. My wife had a better job than most working at a university. She made $20 USD a week. People in countries like this will be very happy to work their butts off for very little cash. The girl who was cleaning our hotel room had a master's degree but was happy to be cleaning our bathroom because, at least she had a job. Our manufacturers have found out that they can get more production for their dollar in these countries. So that's where the money is going. That's why we owe China so much. Until their economy builds up to the point where Mr Average Chang starts demanding more money, we will have trouble putting this gene back in the bottle. I don't see it getting a lot better for us anytime soon (no matter what we do). But we will survive. We may have to do without the latest upgrades, but we will eat.