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Growing trade deficit is selling the nation out from under us (2003) [pdf]

(faculty.washington.edu)
162 points TaurenHunter | 1 comments | 04 Apr 25 09:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.202s | source
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avodonosov ◴[04 Apr 25 10:59 UTC] No.43580479[source]▶
So he says foreigners buy US assets for the dollars US pays them for their goods, and that's the problem - the US being sold out.

My question: don"t these foreigners become Americans in a sense? E.g. by holding shares of US companies they have common interests with other shareholders.

Upd: I mean, if considering nation as a partnership, those new asset co-owners are new parnters. Does it imply old co-owners are deluted? Only if the total value of assets is not growing proportianally to the new shares.

replies(1): >>43580653 #
1. nipponese ◴[04 Apr 25 11:21 UTC] No.43580653[source]▶
Until they become majority shareholders or outright owners.

In the short-term it may turn out to be fine, but over the long run, you have to pray the foreign owners' values are aligned with American success (keeping Americans employed, building value and not asset stripping the company).

Though I will admit recently I don't even feel like even American owners' values are aligned with American success.