"American jeans" aren't american anymore. These are manufactured in Southeast Asia and Mexico. I read a few days ago that only 8% of US workers are in manufacturing now. Only 8%. It's expected this will fall to 2%. A.A.: Okay, American style jeans then, undoubtedly manufactured elsewhere. Those kids weren't buying Southeast Asian or Mexican jeans. They were buying the American imprimatur, the American myth, wherever it's manufactured. The U.S. is an enormous, if not always positive. influence in the world. On the other hand, maybe on balance we are a positive influence in the world. In the 17th century there were few or no democracies in the world. Today nearly every country either is or claims to be a democracy. BTW, has anyone read Perfectly Legal? I read a review. I did not know that the wealthy in this country pay no taxes at all. Not lower taxes in relation to the middle class, but no taxes at all, as in none. All because the IRS is working with less staff than in 1988. Literally hundreds of billions of dollars are being uncollected. In my opinion, that is a step toward a weak America, especially when we have a war to fund. Andy yrs, andreas www.andreas.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html