Yes, and just about everybody else, too.

Btw, does anyone here know (approximately) how much money is currently being owed by the States to China and India (not to mention the others). If they were to call in the debt tomorrow, what do You think would happen?

<offtherook> <I mean, I've only had a pretty basic education in it<=economics> (6 semester hours of introductory courses)>

Yes, it certainly shows. It would be wise to learn more before expressing "opinions" that (for no good reason other than utter arrogance) already seem to be etched in stone.

And, yes, the same goes for your recent spitting all over concepts of "the alternative" medicine. Perhaps you should go through, and maybe even graduate one day from, a medical school first. Then try to have a few decades of practice.

Who knows, maybe You'll have some sort of an opinion then. Not necessarily the correct one, but at least an opinion.

Hong Kong went from British rule and back under Chinese soverignty in 1997. Though there is an agreement that Hong Kong will remain somewhat independent for the next 39 years (50 years on the initial agreement), the apointment of the leader of Hong Kong must be approved by the central chinese government in Beijing. So, I don't put to much stock in the guarantee of political freedoms or human rights in Hong Kong -- at least not for the long-term future.

Even so, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_K..., <Hong Kong is one of the world's leading financial centres.[32] Its highly capitalist economy, built on a policy of free markets, low taxation and government non-intervention,[33] has been ranked as the most free economy in the world in the Index of Economic Freedom for 14 consecutive years.[34][35]>

Singapore is apparently independent of China, however they are pretty much ruled by a one-party elite and the guarantee of basic human rights is suspect, as they don't offer jury trials and have laws restricting the freedom of speech.

Still, it is a very business friendly capitalistic economy. For example, according to <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stor...;, <Singapore has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world.

I happen to live in Singapore right now, although I am a European (I love the tax rates here :-)). Singapore has never belonged to China - it's located between Malaysia and Indonesia. It did at one point belong to the Malaya Federation, from which it was subsequently kicked out. Singapore and Hong Kong are both important ports and old British colonies, which is probably why they are associated in people's minds.

The Heritage Foundation does an annual assessment, and they rate Hong Kong number one and Singapore number two. The U.S.A. comes up fifth on this rating.

The current Heritage Foundation world rankings of countries according to their degree of economic freedom can be viewed at http://www.heritage.org/research/fe....

Ahhh... remebers me of this little story:

A rich tourist enters the lobby in an small greece village.

< She deposits 100 Euro in the reception to go and take a look at the rooms.

< The hotel manager quickly takes the 100 Euro and runs to the slaughter to pay his debt.

< The slaughter goes to the farmer and pays his debt.

< The farmer takes the money to the gas station and pays his debt.

< Gas station manager goes to the local prostitute and pays his debt.

< And the prostitute goes to the hotel and pays her 100 Euro debt.

< The hotel manager puts the 100 Euro on the counter just as the tourist returns to the reception. >>>>>>>

She didn't like any of the rooms and takes her 100 Euro back.