[ale] U.S. National Identity Cards All But Law

[tfreeman at intel.digichem.net]

On Fri, 6 May 2005, Jim Popovitch wrote:

> On Fri, 2005-05-06 at 18:52 -0400, Randal Jarrett wrote:
> > 
<<snip>> 
> Unfortunately for us (US Americans), the rfid chip makers flourish
> elsewhere.  Give this some thought:  Other than farm products what
> physical products does America really produce these days?

Well, lawyers are physically present, so I suppose you could argue that 
they represent physical products... but I digress.

Last I heard, the US is not self-sufficient in food stuffs, and hasn't 
been for a number of years. Pharmacueticals also have a negative trade 
balance. In the past four or five years (I haven't been paying attention) 
bulk chemicals have gone into a negative trade balance, which I think was 
the LAST item of commerce to do so. If I am correct, chemicals had run a 
trade profit consistently since the federal government started tracking 
such back in the 1920's(?). The US was a producer in almost every economic 
catagory, and has given up position steadily since the'70s. Textiles 
started leaving then, basic steel died mid-late decade although part of 
that may be due to the depletion of the Massabe Range as well as other 
problems. Seems like it was the mid to late '80s that much of the chip 
fabrication moved overseas. Heavy equipment like earthmovers were exported 
until about 1980 more than imported, although I think there was a recovery 
(short) during the following decade.

Sorry to be so cynical, but I think the only thing the US exports more of 
than we import are the US Army and the US Marines.

YMMV, and I hope I'm wrong in a good way somewhere above.

-- 
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If you think Education is expensive
Try Ignorance
                   Author Unknown
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