I'm confused! Why does the US have such a huge appetite for foreign made metric goods? The imperialists keep saying that the UK needs to remain imperial to service the American market. Yet no country, including the UK, seems to have a problem selling metric goods to the US. Americans can't seem to get enough of the world's metric goods.

On the other hand, the world doesn't seem to interested in America's non-metric goods. If it was, the US might have a more balanced trade deficit. Those who say America will never go metric don't seem to realise that every time an American buys a metric product they help metricate America, even if a millimetre at a time.



Stable dollar may mean bigger deficit-Fed's Yellen

Thu 2004-09-09 17:17 ET

SEATTLE, 2004-0-09 (Reuters) - If the dollar's value remains steady, the record U.S. current account deficit will widen over the long run, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Janet Yellen said on Thursday.
"It seems to me over the very long term ... that with the dollar remaining roughly where it is relative to other currencies, this trend is likely to continue to exacerbate, to go from five percent (of gross domestic product) current account deficits to higher levels," she said.

In June the trade deficit soared to a record high $55.82 billion, underscoring the huge U.S. demand for foreign products as well as its reliance on foreign capital to fund consumption.

Yellen, responding to questions after a speech at a Fed-sponsored luncheon, said financing the massive deficit means borrowing from abroad, adding: "Ultimately escalating borrowing over a matter of decades is an unsustainable trend."

While Yellen said she was discussing a 10- to 20-year horizon for the deficits and the dollar, "I believe that (the current account deficit) has to turn around and has to involve the dollar."

America buys metric
September 9 2004 at 3:04 PM Carlyle
Carlyle:
On the other hand, the world doesn't seem to interested in America's non-metric goods. If it was, the US might have a more balanced trade deficit. Those who say America will never go metric don't seem to realise that every time an American buys a metric product they help metricate America, even if a millimetre at a time.

metre:
Should be compulsory reading for every imperialist maintaining that obsolete units have any value at at all in a metric world.
But then, this would mean facing harsh reality, something none of them can stomach.

<<I'm confused! >>

Indeed, I agree. You are.

Carlyle, if you are so confused I suggest you consult metre. He will help you.

Bud: "Carlyle, if you are so confused I suggest you consult metre. He will help you."

Bud, I imagine you making this remark absolutely straight-faced: hilarious ! :-)))

Re: America buys metric September 11 2004, 1:28 AM

Bud:
Carlyle, if you are so confused I suggest you consult metre. He will help you.


metre:
Imperials lack of logic condemns them to presume that what they say makes actually sense. And I am sure it does in your funny world.

<<Carlyle, if you are so confused I suggest you consult metre. He will help you. >>

ROTFL! Thanks for that Bud - I averaged about 10mph on my trip to work this morning and that little gem cheered me up no end!