1. "don't" produce anything isn't the same as "can't" produce anything.
2. If economic changes make Chinese flip-flops too expensive to import, perhaps we'll call our own old flip-flop makers out of retirement. Same for TV's and Saabs and Volvos. Oh, wait, Saab and Volvo are US companies.
3. "If the US catches a cold, the rest of the world gets the flu." Yes, indeed. Things will be rosy all around the world the day the US economy totally collapses. Everyone else will do just fine though.
Please continue. This is almost as good as the "perk 'em all" threads.