> What would it take for America to run a trade surplus?
It's not the yearly surplus or deficit which matters, these things can yo-yo all over the place. The problem is that the US is importing vast and ever-increasing quantities of capital from abroad to make up for its lack of domestic savings (it doesn't save, because it doesn't have a welfare state worthy of the name, and the rich would rather punt Bubble-stocks and purchase mansions than build schools) -- 4.5% of GDP per annum, and still increasing. If this keeps up, then the US dollar will eventually lose its status as world reserve currency, and will have to earn yen and euro on foreign markets to pay back its debt.
The progressive alternative is, to thoroughly soak the rich, invest in domestic education, schools and infrastructure, and set up coherent industrial policies backed by strong unions, fair wages, and networks of innovation. All quite practical stuff, which the EU is already implementing.
-- Dennis