U.S. Trade Deficit Hit Highest Figure Ever in November
By ELIZABETH BECKER
and JOHN O'NEIL

Published: January 12, 2005

ASHINGTON, Jan. 12 - The nation's trade deficit jumped sharply in November, rising to $60.3 billion, the highest figure ever and an increase of 7 percent over October's $56 billion gap, the Commerce Department reported today.

The increase puts the trade deficit on a pace to exceed $600 billion for 2004, up from $496.5 billion the year before.

Treasury Secretary John W. Snow said in a telephone interview that the growing trade deficit was a sign of the strength of the American economy rather than a weakness. "The economy is growing, expanding, creating jobs and disposable income and that shows up in the demand for imports," he said.

I can see that as being a sign of a growing economy but Mr. Snow is taking very short sighted view. People are buy more but what is that doing to the business in the US? How can our country continue to buy and buy when more and more people lose their jobs? I suppose more credit and employment councilors are the new jobs he's referring to so I guess it balances out. Hey, the global economy is doing great! What a dreary looking future.

Granted it's hard to buy "American". A quick search of google shows that there are web sites ran by Unions and other groups who provide very poor search engines and lists of places/items to buy American made products. Try buying anything electronic from a Made in the US company. The yellow rubber braclets LiveStrong that support cancer research and thought up by Lance Armstrong were made in China. It's the first thing I noticed when I looked at the thing clear cellophane bags.