At $829.1B (!) the US trade deficit is indeed high. This is because the US consumer is the engine of the world economy and has been for 60 years. Few Americans seem to realize how important our economy is to the rest of the world. Here's another little piece of the pie: About $1T in foreign investment poured into America in 2005. So while trade money that money has been leaving the country even more than that has been invested directly back into the country. We are still the safe haven for investment.

Many will whine how this is borrowed money we must pay interest on and how we should finance our own debt, or better yet not accumulate debt at all. Fair enough, but keep in mind most nations seek to encourage foreign investment as much as possible. Why? Because it creates local wealth. That $1T is invested in nearly every economic sector in our society. That plus the multiplier effect creates huge wealth and growth in our national economy. Can you imagine how nations like Russia, China, India, ANYONE, would LOVE to have $1T invested in their nation in one year??? Foreign investment built America's railroad system in the 19th Century. Appreciate it people.

Until another nation rises to the economic might of America, the trade deficit is absolutely necessary to keep the world economy growing.