One Easy Way to Save the American Economy

A suggestion by Paul V. Kane, former international security fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, printed in The New York Times on November 10:

President Obama should enter into closed-door negotiations with Chinese leaders to write off the $1.14 trillion of American debt currently held in China in exchange for a deal to end American assistance and arms sales to Taiwan and terminate the current U.S.–Taiwan defence arrangement by 2015.

4 Responses to One Easy Way to Save the American Economy

  1. SImple and practical but a coward’s way out.

  2. Fat chance! With Obama building a military base in Australia the Chinese are unlikely to be interested.

  3. China needs those dollars to buy and sell their goods…economists cringe at the way “debt” is debated about in the public sphere. Plus Taiwan is an independent and small power. It isn’t about cowardice, it is about people who live in fear of a greater power that might assert its will on them. The issue of Taiwan isn’t about a renegade province, but a distinct and independent people threatened by an aggressive neighboring country.

    Cut aid to Israel, we will save lots of money and maybe they will actually come to a real peace deal without our backing.

  4. An interesting idea. But one that could never get anywhere. I can’t even imagine a politician proposing it. American pride would never allow it.

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