The relative value of currency is only one of many indicator as to the health of a nations economy. But, like you said, you arn't particularly knowledgable when it comes to economics, and I highly doubt that anyone here is. Regardless, this argument is going to come to nothing but misconstrued facts, half truths and patriotic banter, just like console arguments

StormProphet I considered you one of the best Wii fanatics out there. You typically spit out useful info.

OMGZOR. You mean that since I make 10,000/year. I'm not eligble for medical... Meaning I have to pay 200$ for a doctor to write me a perscription because I'm dieing then Pay 500$ for the perscripting... OMG You seious. Oh wait. That's why I suffer when I'm sick. When a country's best attribute is cheap manual labor. It is NOT DOING WELL. Where I live. There are 2 Automobile plants... and 3 boat manufacturers. No high tech jobs. no jobs require more than 12th grade education. Unless it's 1/100 jobs and then those only pay 20$/hour. And that's still less than 40,000/year. I dont know what america you live in. But it's not the america I've seen. (Entire east coast, midwest, mountian, and west coast) Maybe hawaii is diffrent. But of almost every mainland state that I've been in... There are your rich neighborhoods... and then those that are a LOT... less off. Here is some stuff about american health coverage. http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml Scroll through this list. If you lived in canada. Made under 30,000/year. You wouldnt pay taxes. AND have medical. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_28940.htm#b00-0000 In america. If you make under 30,000 and Pay your 20% taxes. You cant afford medical. Moral of the story. Please dont say america is the greatest country in the world. I would love it to be true. But I suffer every day. My Wife is a diabetic. Do you know how likely I am to move out of the state I'm in? Do you know what it takes to get medical where I live? Medical Assistance from the goverment... like Canada... and obviously france give you for free? Let me tell you what it takes. 1. Be under 21. 2. Be Pregant. Welcome to the worst medicare state in the country, which has the worst medical in the civilized world. Also. Run a currency conversion for USD --> into any other currency. Canadians/Europeans. What currency do you use, and how much do you pay for a loaf of bread, a can of soup? How much does 'cheap' houseing cost? How much does your medical cost? I'll list my numbers. USD. 2.00$ /loaf of bread. 0.79$ /can of soup. 80,000$ for a small 40 year old 2bedroom house. 400$/month I pay 9.25% sales tax. (everything I buy) and then I have whatever the federal tax is.

Waaaay off topic, everyone, but for once, I agree with Kwaad. The US healthcare system is in shambles and one of the worse in the developed world. The US economy is also great...if you were in the upper classes. The middle class is also shrinking faster than the drop rate of the dollar.

So about the Wii being sold out. If the rumours are true, today is the big day for finally getting one. I'm curious to see if it's true. I know it's early (2:45 AM), but as the day goes on, I'd love to hear from everyone what the state of Wii stock is like.

Went to GameStop today, asked the store clerk. Every time they get Wiis, they're sold out. He does have 1 60-Gig PS3...It's been close to almost 3 months, you would think the Wii sales woulda slowed down, but they're not. Supply and demand. So far Demand is slowly overshadowing Supply for the Wiis. But for PS3? I dunno about that. Might be High Supply/ Low Demand, or the other way around. I dunno really, but ehh I got my Wii.

I went to EB Games today. Apparently they got about 10 Wiis and 5 PS3s. 4 of the PS3s were still there at 4 pm, but all the Wiis were gone. They also got a huge shipment of Wiimotes and nunchucks. The guy said they got like 20 of each. At 4 pm, there was just one Wiimote and 5 nunchucks. I grabbed the Wiimote of course.

Kwaad : It's really very funny. Because you managed to completely reverse what was said. I am the one who was saying the US system is in shambles, and StormProphet is the one who was saying it's best, especially compared to Europe, with other nonsense like 50 % taxes. Because I'm the one who doesn't live in the USA, you know ! So the point you're making is the same I was making. So I agree entirely with you, surprised, aren't you ? And here in France, as in most of Europe, Wii is still sold out. Some France december preorders were still not fulfilled.

Thank God i live in Greece, and in a small town, i can find a Wii whenever i want! No one buys game consoles here... only PS2 in a strange way

Kwaad: A really nice post about the ecnomical part of USA vs EU and so on. Well I can't say that I live in the best country in the world but I do love my Sweden :) I do pay roughly 30% tax a year. I make 42000 USD a year (23 years old). The VAT is 25% and yes that is a lot. My education has been payed by the goverment al the way up till university (which is the reason why I could study, I am from the working class). I finished my studies one month ago. Medicin isn't completly free but you are protected for higher cost than roughly 500 USD per year I think. I gladly pay my tax because I have gotten a lot of things from the goverment. Sweden do have a lot of well paid doctors which is paid by the goverment. And to you that defend the medical system in USA, last time I heard that 40 million of americans couldn't afford a medical treatment. In some part of USA you have evan a higher children death rate than Cuba! So please do not blame me for loving my socialism, it is not a bad word :) A loaf of bread cost around 2 USD (with VAT)... cheap housing is totally gone in Gothenburg, where I live (econmical boom), but I have seen apartements 70 m2 (3 room plus kitchen) for 700 USD/month but if you are low paid you are allowed grants from the goverment to pay some of the monthly cost. An apartement of 50 USD is costing roughly 570 USD/month. The high cost depends on the weak USD, 5 years ago it was: 1 USD = 11 SEK now it is 1 USD = 7 SEK. The USD has been in free fall for some time now. But the most thing is more expensive in sweden than in the USA... EDIT: Oh and Wii is still sold out...

Lets see, 4 PS3's sit on the shelf Thats 4 X 1200 = $4800!! God bless Jack Trenton!