Quoted from Vengeance

CIBC Canada has already predicted that the CAD will be on par with the USD before the end of the year.  

then it becomes a race to see if  we can break the record of 1.02 usd for more than one or two days (like in '68 )

Quoted from takochef

then it becomes a race to see if  we can break the record of 1.02 usd for more than one or two days (like in '68 )

The record is actually $1.0614 on Aug. 21, 1957

Who are you guys kidding. If it weren't for tariffs China would already have all our manufacturing. The day when we all want to work at third world standards will be the day that we become competitive at manufacturing again. Until then we can only hope that China sees North American standards and demands a higher standard of living so as to bring their labour costs in line with ours.

Stop fooling yourselves. We aren't willing to work like that and with the effects globalization it is bleak at best. At one time people said look at the precision of the Swiss or the ingenuity of the Americans. Now third world countries possess the knowledge and equipment to rival the once great industrial countries.

Fat, dumb and happy is all we are. We're fucked. Don't blame the interest rates on export manufacturing. Be thankful we have some resources to prop us up.

Given the amount of debt the US has accumulated (particularly with Chinese banks that have been purchasing billions if not trillions of T-bills), the US dollar is actually significantly overvalued.

One of the main factors propping up the USD is that the 2 energy exchanges (NYC and London) are USD-only. As soon as a Euro-based energy exchange is opened; the USD might be in trouble. The Iranians are working on exactly such an exchange ... hmm maybe this has something to do with recent diplomatic squabbles? Bahh I'll stop with the crazy conspiracy theories.

Canadian dollar will also keep going up as we are becoming an energy currency. However, there is a significant risk that our massive coal reserves will lose relevance due to innovations in energy production, new refineries being built, or any other factor that would significantly drop energy prices. For this reason I hope we are diversifying our investments with all that coal money pouring in.

Quoted from mark

My Z06 gets 34 US mpg on the highway (no joke)

The most recent Z06 ?

I love sport cars too, I have a Nissan 350Z  

Interesting note about the Chinese purchase of tbills, I don't really have an opinion but it seems similar to the middle east purchase of tbills and bonds during the 80's and the Japanese purchase of real estate during the 90's neither of which was castrophic for the US economy but perhaps there are underlying differences.

another thing about the US$ is that since 2 years ago the gouverment doesnt give the number of bill in circulation anymore.....in other words they are printing money without counting they real value.....

The US has to print more money whenever they're about to default on interest payments for their t-bills. Last time they did this was a year or so ago. if you look at the US as a company, then the financials look like sh*t.

The consequence of chinese-owned debt is that they can start calling the shots in the US, politically. "change this or that law regarding chinese imports (or whatever) or else we will call in a trillion or two of the money you owe us."

China has already started in investing in US firms though. Except to see some major chinese-US takeovers and mergers in the next 10 years (if the landscape remains similar).

Quoted from Mani

...
The consequence of chinese-owned debt is that they can start calling the shots in the US, politically. "change this or that law regarding chinese imports (or whatever) or else we will call in a trillion or two of the money you owe us."
...

China won't even have to exert that kinda muscle to send North America into the toliet..  i don't have the numbers on hand but remember how they always showed pictures of Chinese people riding bicycles? Guess what, the recent prosperty (or industrialization), those new workers want automobiles. So instead of .5% of the population having the luxury to afford an auto's, the % will climb & climb with more and more strain on available oil resources.

Keep yer finger's crossed that technology is discovered to cheaply  convert the tar sands into gas. If not, canada will be just as screwed as our buddies south of the border.