Your viewpoint is interesting, Strick, and I'm enjoying reading it.

Canadians also tend to vote in incumbents when the economy is good and kick them out when it's bad. I don't know if the Bush administration decided to pull some strings and drive down the value of the US dollar...or if they just got lucky...but it has been a big help to them that the dollar fell.

It's been hard on Canada, because people are now tending to buy American goods if they can, since our money has gone up 15% against the American dollar in the last few months. It's hurt out balance of trade and taken a big chunk out of, for instance, my profits, because I sell to American customers. I am philosophical about it, and not worried, that's just the way it goes...and there's still enough money coming in okay anyway.

From the point of view of balance of trade, there is nothing better for a country than if their currency gets weaker on the foreign exchange...a weak dollar means lots of happy customers overseas, while domestically it doesn't make a whole lot of difference unless you are purchasing imported goods.

I am dreaming of the day the Canadian dollar weakens again. :-) It used to be worth 66 cents American, now it's worth 75 cents American. On the other hand, it's great if I want to buy hobby kits from the USA...and I do.

Those who are wise put away extra cash when times are good, and are prepared to ride out the lean times.

I hope you are right that the USA cannot take on another war at this point, and I think you may be.

- LH