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The Decline of the Dollar

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The Decline of the Dollar
America’s fiscal crisis is complex. Although the economy has always had its highs and lows, the recent subprime mortgage crisis, a $10.6 trillion national debt, and a growing unemployment rate are all indicators that America is in a recession. Though this paper may simplify the solutions needed to help the economy recover, they are based on sound economic principles.
The national debt is the most pressing issue. Debt builds when I spend more money than I make. A national debt is not something new for America, but the size of the debt is alarming. Since 1981, the national debt has increased by a factor of 10. So even in those times when our country’s economy was booming, the amount of our debt increased. Solid financial planning always includes debt management. Currently, America has failed to manage its debt. Fighting two wars overseas, funding unnecessary projects, and the reduction of manufactured goods in America have contributed to this debt. As debt grows, so does the amount of the interest payment. This makes paying off that debt more difficult, since much of the payment is going towards the interest. However, with a lot of diligence, perhaps in 30 years when my children inherit the economy, they will have a debt-free America.
We were not alone in creating this decline. There was much talk and writing for years about how the Japanese seemed to be on the verge of buying America and how the quality of products and services delivered by American companies had been outstripped by foreign competitors, especially the Japanese. TQM (Total Quality Management) programs, made up of approaches to management that originated in Japanese industry in the 1950s, were highly touted. Having observed Japan’s success employing quality control techniques, western companies started to take their own quality initiatives. TQM developed as a

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