JJP,
For all our troubles, I would not trade them for any other countries.
China – 200 million people living in a middle class to upper class existence; 100 million working amongst the 200 million, less well off, but doing better than they've ever done in their lives; 800 million people for whom the live style of a 1925 Alabama sharecropper would be a significant step up. About 50 million males can’t find a wife. China has vast amounts of land, too bad most of it isn't arable. China has three of the four largest banks in the world. But, if you think our banks assets holdings are risky …?
Russia – cleaning up in the oil market establishing wealth the czars dreamt of. Vast amounts of land, rich in natural resources. Populated by only 141 million persons. A population that will decline by 32 million in the next 40 years, almost a 25 percent drop. Alcoholism, murder, and suicide are major causes of death. Males average life span is 58 years. The only sector of the population growing in the south central Asia area populated by poor muslims. And, oh yes, China claims a third of Asia Russia is actually Chinese territory