| |
Trade
Deficit
by
Peary Perry
"Yesterday, the newspapers announced that the US had another
record-breaking trade deficit for the previous year. If I recall correctly, we
as a nation, purchased something like 600 billion dollars worth of items from
other countries in 2004. As I understand it, this means these goods were manufactured
in some other country and shipped to us here in the States." |
|
To:
US Government
Re: Prevention of Coastal Erosion
Sirs:
This
is to advise you that from time to time, often I am able to dream about ways to
improve our country and it’s citizens. I realize that I am not a member of any
established institute of higher learning or some exclusive think tank, but I still
feel my theories are valid and do need to be considered. I do not charge for these
pearls of wisdom as I feel this is my duty as an American and that we all should
give something back to our great nation.
Last night I had one of these
insightful dreams or inspiration occurrences. Please pay attention from this point
onward. This is very important.
Yesterday, the newspapers announced that
the US had another record-breaking trade deficit for the previous year. If I recall
correctly, we as a nation, purchased something like 600 billion dollars worth
of items from other countries in 2004. As I understand it, this means these goods
were manufactured in some other country and shipped to us here in the States.
Now, listen to me closely, let’s assume the entire country is a big bucket surrounded
by water. If I continue to pile things into this bucket, it is eventually going
to sink lower and lower until finally it is even with the surrounding water and
will be flooded at some point in time. Perhaps a big piece of carpet is a better
example, you choose, whatever visualization method makes the most sense to you.
Bear in mind that we are buying heavy things with these 600 billion dollars and
then moving them from one part of our planet to the part where we live.
Visualize
Japan and China getting lighter and the United States getting heavier.
Anyway,
I think it is fairly obvious that if we keep importing foreign goods into this
country, year after year, and adding all of that weight to our fragile landmass,
it is only natural that we will ultimately sink further into the sea. This will
force the entire population of the country to move to places such as Denver or
Idaho. They have the space there to fit us all in, but from what I’ve read they
wouldn’t be too happy about having 250 million of us moving there at one time.
Perhaps we could space it out over a number of years so it wouldn’t be so bad.
However, I’m not sure they have that many houses or Starbucks to serve our needs.
They might need a few more Laundromats as well.
I ask you to recall your
basic physics classes and remember that energy never goes away or mass never dies
or something along those lines. This means that the total weight of other nations
could eventually be shifted onto our borders and where do you think that will
leave us? I don’t have the answer for this since I failed most of my physics classes,
but I have sent this question off to some folks at Harvard and expect an answer
shortly. Once they realize the seriousness of this situation I’m certain they
will want to fly me to their institution for some sort of consulting contract.
Obesity of our fellow Americans is one thing, but adding more weight to our sensitive
environment due to overzealous consumerism is another story altogether. I’m surprised
some of the environmental activists groups haven’t seen this glaring and obvious
problem.
With our shorelines receding year after year at alarming rates,
I feel it is time we look at this as soon as possible. I think most of you will
agree with me that unless something is done to stop this harmful practice we could
all be shopping for apartments or home sites in Boise.
I feel the real
story behind this is buried in national politics and this is the real reason we
have not heard anything on this issue from either the Republicans or the Democrats.
They just don’t want to discuss this potential disaster. Reforming social security
is one thing, but telling the American public they can’t have a plasma television
made in Japan is entirely different. It’s time the leaders of this country stood
up and investigated the impending crisis before it’s too late. We as a people
need to realize that our continued purchases of automobiles, televisions, DVD
players and toaster ovens is bad for our economy as well as being bad for those
living along our nations coast line.
As I develop more scientific data
on this I will keep you posted.
© Peary
Perry
Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com
Letters
From North America
- March
23 , 2005 column |
| |
