Mafeking

Compared with Canada, U.S. Economy Looks OK

Methinks you guys are a little disconnected from the Canadian situation - I write from Toronto. Firstly, you do know that Canada is a much more socialist state than the US. Top tax rates start kicking in at $60K and at $100k they are 48%.

That aside, the Canadian economic situation is very regional. Ontario's manufacturing base is being hit severely by the strength of the CDN dollar. The car industry is in bad shape.

But out west with both oil (Alberta) and fertilizer (Saskatchewan) things are much rosier. Indeed right across the Western states things are much better (and there is oil coming on line on the Atlantic coast too).

Now as far as fiddling economic numbers - be assured that Canada has its own foibles. Stats Canada pushes things the other way, however, to show how poor everyone is, how many kids are starving and how the poor are getting poorer (not the case in fact) so that the conservative government is pushed in social hand outs.

Maybe that fiddle the data in the US - rest assured though the Canada (and I suspect Europe) also alters data. It is just that the objectives are different. Socialist do it differently.

Buying CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar ETF as Loonie Falls Below Dollar

Interesting - I am a Canadian who is betting the other way - estimates in Canada are that the 'natural' level is CDN$1 around $0.85

The US dollar fluctuates through a 10 to 15 year cycle. Extreme collapse scenarios aside for those outside the US starting to buy into US based ETFs with a 5+ year horizon could end very well.