JohnT writes:

I suppose that it depends on your definition of "number one player". To me,
it seems to be a Country which has spectacularly lost its way in the last
few years and which is now living on past glories. And its deficit has now
reached gynormous proportions.

True, but there's a lot of inertia, and it's always possible that the next
administration may fix things, although I am not optimistic. Until then, the
USA can only hope that China will continue to buy its debt and not call in any
notes.

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