i find it interesting that now the west is facing difficulty in competing in the production of manufactured goods (china, etc) the rules have once again changed and the ideas are where the value is. in china, only a fraction of the profits of its vast manufacturing operations are chinese profits. the bulk goes back abroad. similarly, the depression of the value of a lot of primary products from the developing world shifted profits to the "added value" of the manufacturing process. meanwhile land labour and tradeoff cousts in the raw material roducing societies count for little.

Hey butterfly,

I don't mean to insult you but are you a native English speaker? Either way it would be helpful if you took a little more time in writing your posts. I didn't really understand what you were saying here. I think what you are talking about is the process by which less and less relative value is placed on commodity resources and then manufacturing as we transition further and further towards a automated service based economy. Is that right?

Very interesting idea, indeed, Papillon. I mean, really, who would not want to purchase Chinese goods. There is a real value there, unless production costs rise with an increase in the cost of LEAD PAINT!!!

re. inquinsitor

yes you are correct and i apologize for my haste and sloppiness in the post