2002-06-01

The increase of the Euro at the expense of the Dollar will hurt the American
economy.  That is a fact!

The US economy is heavily driven and dependant on credit and debt.
Americans are encouraged to spend frivolously, even if they don't have the
money to support such buying habits.  The difference is made up in buying on
credit.  It is not uncommon for the typical US consumer to be tens of
thousands of dollars in debt.  And it is not uncommon for said consumer to
pay little on that debt even as interest charges are applied.

In most countries, such a state could not exist without causing a total
financial collapse, as was witnessed recently in Argentina.  But, America is
able to support its high debt by the investment and confidence the world
holds for the dollar.  The use of the dollar is what pays for America's
debt.  It keeps US bankruptcy laws weak, allowing for citizens to default on
their debts without having the effect of causing the banking system to
collapse.

The US must take in 1.3 G$/day to support the debt of the US economy.
Without that income, the debt must be supported from other means.  One of
those means would be to amend the bankruptcy laws making payback of debt by
consumers and business a must.  No more excusing of bad debt.  Consumers and
businesses that must use their limited incomes to pay off debt, will not be
spending money on goods and services that stimulate the economy.  Thus a
further decline of the economy will result and an increase in poverty.

This is why the Canadian dollar and other currencies are weak.  There is
nothing fundamentally wrong with their economies.  The US government is just
as wasteful of money as any other government is.  Buy, Canadians and others
have no confidence in their own currency.  That lack of confidence
translates into a weak currency.  If Canadians supported their own currency
in both Canada and abroad, its value would increase.  But, they don't.  They
belittle it.  If only they knew that by doing so, they are only hurting them
selves.  If Canada seems to be stable, it is due to the large reserves of US
dollars in their banks and businesses.

So, when I say the increase in the value of the Euro and the increased
confidence in the Euro will hurt the US economy, this is what I meant.  And
it should be that way.  Why should Americans have a free lunch and nobody
else can?

American economists are frightened of the Euro.  They know the party is
over.  What they don't know is how long they will have to endure a weak
economy or what it will do to America's desire to control the global
economy.

So, now do you understand where I am coming from?

John


----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis JOURDAN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, 2002-06-01 01:16
Subject: Re: [USMA:20292] Re: Fwd: 'Euro-creep' starts slowly


> At 20:02 -0400 02/05/31, kilopascal wrote:
> >2002-05-31
> >
> >After carefully thinking about your conclusion, I'm going to disagree.
You
> >are assuming that the dollar will remain at 80 % and the Euro will only
> >replace the present usage for the Mark, the Franc and the Pound Sterling.
I
> >expect that 80 % to dwindle, for the following reasons:
>
> John, I agree with most points of your analysis
>
> >The exact amount of power the Euro will take from the Dollar is unknown,
but
> >rest assured what ever it is, it will have a negative effect on the US
> >economy.
>
> but here I disagree : there is no reason that the euro damages US
> economy, on the contrary. What it could hurt is the dollar supremacy
> in international financial transactions.
>
> In any case it will be a factor of equilibrium and stability.
>
> Louis

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