[ninefivezero]

Rank Order - Current account balance

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat.../2187rank.html

Ponder that list for a second. And those are CIA numbers folks, the real deal.

Discuss.

[Torx]

eff me in the bunghole.. you gotta be shitting me.

188 United States $ -738,600,000,000 2007 est

[xe0n]

no way..

[ATIzed]

You probably need to look around for what this list is saying. I did not know what the list meant, I just did a quick look around and firstly found:

Back to Basics - Do Current Account Deficits Matter? - Finance & Development - December 2006

and an explanation on another forum, some of the links are not functioning in it:

The most basic definition I could find is
"A record of all economic transactions between residents of one country and residence of the rest of the world during a given time period."
Glossary - B

Mathematically the equation looks like this:
Current account balance = Balance of Trade + Net factor of income from abroad + Net Unilateral Transfers from Abroad + other small items
Current account - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Presented as numbers we have -$738.6B = -$708.50B + $81.10B + -$104.4B + -6.8B
BEA : Page Not Found lease.htm

First, the Balance of Trade, which is by far the largest piece for the US, = exports - imports. The US imported $2,336.90B worth of goods and services in 2007 and exported $1,628.40B worth of goods and sercies in 2007, which means we imported a net of $708.50B of goods and services.

Second, the US invests more abroad than is invested in the US from abroad; thus, we have $81.10B in investment income.

Third, we give away more charity than we receive (no surprise there) thus we have a -$104.4B in unilateral payments.
BEA : Page Not Found lease.htm

Considering the first piece, the Balance of Trade, is by far the largest piece, all the current account deficit really tells us that US consumers are having a grand old time while US based businesses are being challenged by foreign competition.

The word "deficit" has a negative connotation, but in this case, it should only be looked at as unfavorable for US business while favorable for US consumers.

A surplus is the opposite. Chinese consumers are screwed while Chinese business booms.

[mistawiskas]

-738.6 trillion dollars eh? We're doomed. This is corporate/government greed in action, they make the money and we take the losses. you guys still think we can afford to dole out forigne aid and buy friendship? How about pay for a war that has no end or winning?

How they vote in the United Nations:

Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States which are recorded in both the US State Department and United Nations records:

Ku wait votes against the United States 67% of the time

Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time

Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time

United Arab Emirates votes against the United States 70% of the time.

Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of t he time.

Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Oman votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time.

Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time.

Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time.

India votes against the United States 81% of the time.

Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time.

Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

U S Foreign Aid to those that hate us:

Egypt, for example, after voting 79% of the time against the United States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid.

Jordan votes 71% against the United States

And receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

Pakistan votes 75% against the United States

Receives $6,721,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

India votes 81% against the United States

Receives $143,699,000 annually.

The good 'ol United States of America pays 27% of the UN's bills not to mention free rent, security and providing 90% of the military personnel and arms when the UN decides to send our kids into harms way to do their bidding!

Perhaps it is time to stop being the UN's patsy and get out of that organization. Give the tax savings back to the American workers having to skimp and sacrifice to pay taxes (and for gasoline).

[MSP]

What was the deficit when Clinton was in office again?

[mistawiskas]

or even 4 years ago?

[MovingTarget]

Its all bloated anyway....

Again I agree with Mista......

[MSP]

I just pray we can turn this mess around before we're a 2nd rate country. Hell, a lot of what I used to consider 2nd rate countries are now better places to live.

[hans5849]

WTf Hati has more than us...

[czechrboard tassia]

I thought this thread was going to be about Grey's Anatomy.

[namelessentity]

Originally Posted by MSP

I just pray we can turn this mess around before we're a 2nd rate country. Hell, a lot of what I used to consider 2nd rate countries are now better places to live.

Maybe financially, but I sure as hell wouldn't want my tongue to slip and end up in a prison for it. I think I can handle a recession if it means I'm still allowed to make choices in my life.

[JustinL]

One of my friends was talking about a guy he met from Singapore. Up until 4-5 years ago, chewing gum was illegal. Public caning is still a legal form of punishment. He was breaking the law by telling my friend this, he was not speaking positively about his country.

I would not be able to participate in high power rocketry if I lived in England, they have outlawed high power motors. Some of what our (the U.S.) amerature rocketry guys are building in their garage can be considered missiles in other parts of the world. Our record is 72 miles strait up with a weight of 500lbs, think about that at a 45 degree launch angle. In the link below from the hybrid rocket I did, the parts in the upper/right of the picture are parts to a rocket (rest of the rocket is only 5ft away). It is capable of ~62 miles. Point being, in most other countries I wouldn't have that opportunity.
http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=DSCF1338.jpg


I'll deal with political BS over a severe lack of personal liberties any day.

[Torx]

Originally Posted by MSP

I just pray we can turn this mess around before we're a 2nd rate country. Hell, a lot of what I used to consider 2nd rate countries are now better places to live.

praying is for pussies. (no offense msp, your my homie)
make a stand and FIGHT THA POWER!!!

[MovingTarget]

Originally Posted by czechrboard tassia

I thought this thread was going to be about Grey's Anatomy.

How did the title make you think the post would be about Grey's Anatomy?....

[Mr. Ali]

I think they say seriously a lot in that show.

[MovingTarget]

Oh.....I guess that would make sense then.....

I haven't even watched the TV in like 6 years.... maybe longer....

[jake]

woot 23rd!

[MSP]

By "2nd rate" I meant cost and quality of living. Obviously America still rocks as a result of our freedoms.

[mistawiskas]

Political BS can and does lead to the dark side Justin. We need to be very vigilant or the lack of liberty you spoke of, will sneak into our country and you'll be out of opportunities. Limited opportunity is spreading like wildfire due to economic problems. Liberties get controled and severed as a result of unrest caused by the economic lack of options.