On 04/11/2010, at 8:32 AM, Dan Minette wrote: > >> It is quite possible that we falter over the next two years, sliding back >> into depression. One of the most depressing figures is that the average > GDP >> growth rate for the last 30 years will result in unemployment increasing, >> since we need 3%/year growth to tread water. > >> Not what I meant, sorry, but I was sticking with your definition of >> black swan as a solution to economic malaise. > >> War, global conflict, would be the most drastic "solution". > > Well, the US did prosper from wars it has been in, but that's fairly unique.
ARRRRRGH!! "it's unusual" "it's very rare" OR "it's unique". Unique can't take a qualifier except maybe "possibly" or "almost" and even then you need care. Sorry, bugbear. > Germany didn't, France didn't. The USSR didn't; the Cold War broke them. > The UK lost its fortune in WWI and WWII. We profited from lots of wars. Your point may be "countries can't prosper from wars repeatedly" which is a lesson the USA is about to learn. > > And, 'Nam hurt the US economy after a while. We couldn't afford "guns and > butter" as the saying went at the time. Even those who argued it was a > mangled but essential part of containment, it cost. And the USA is in a far worse position now - a similar war that's unwinnable, and a far worse economic situation. Interesting, in a bad way. And now with the mid-term results you're even worse off... Spiralling is the word, i think. Charlie. _______________________________________________ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
