>The USA? Don't they just print money? It isn't a mere house of cards; we bully developing countries for their resources, too. >The kids at school that work o

>The USA? Don't they just print money? It isn't a mere house of cards; we bully developing countries for their resources, too. >The kids at school that work out their own homework go on to do well. This is true, to some extent, but it isn't a guarantee. >The kids that copy from others don't really succeed too brilliantly. Those that copy are a step behind. Are you implying some kind of meritocracy exists? Because I would disagree. Some of the kids that cheat seem to do quite well, much to our collective detriment. In terms of innovation, I don't see American goods as anywhere near as polished as their German counterparts. I agree. IMO some of that is a deliberate compromise between durability and cost, and some of it is probably just industrialized sloth and rent seeking. We do still have lots of innovation here, but IMO we've lost that edge, and are doing nothing that would help us regain it, or even remain competitive. > I would take the lowest spec. German car over any American car in current production without hesitation. The same applies to white goods and even cakes! You might be interested to know that I have two German (and two American) cars in my drive right now. I'm happier with the 1982 model though than I am with the 1999; but even with their problems they are superior to their American "equivalents". German cakes? You've gone a step too far!