The U.S., having dominated the world in the 20th century because of its military, technological and economic strength, is in a steep and probably irreversible decline. The elites found they could make more money by selling trumped up financial products like securitized mortgages to foreigners than they could by making things. China now makes everything we need, but we have nothing to offer them to pay for it. So we have lost our clothing, electronics, steel and automobile industry to asian competitors. Wall street became the best possible kind of casino - one in which the bankers could not lose because the losses are simply replaced by taxpayer bailout money by means of paid-for politicians. It's the best democracy money can buy and money did buy it long ago. The elites sold the country down the river and don't care, since they can take their money anywhere in the world. They have no loyalty to any country. As for jobs, I personally know three people who have moved or are considering moving to China for employment. I suggest we all start learning Mandarin. My son is.

Instead of bailing out the very criminals on Wall street that caused this crisis, the government should be spending hundreds of billions on badly-needed roads, airports, sewers, power grids and other infrastructure. This will not only create jobs, but will make the country stronger in the future. The U.S. must invest more in advanced technology like medicine, renewable energy, fusion power and better education at all levels. China is doing this and we are in danger of being left behind.

Ikea is a "Kafkaesque nightmare?" This is a mere tempest in a teapot that deserves to be put out of its misery for being on its last legs. It should bite the dust. There is no free lunch, not even one consisting of Swedish meatballs. The author clearly has an axe to grind but his prose is as clear as mud. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee, not to mention the cinnamon buns.

Any idiot can assemble an Ikea table or bookcase. Try putting together an Ikea dresser. That separates the men from the boys.

I thought Mr. Davidson's piece funny. But I reserve the term "Kafkaesque" for dealings with the INS.

What's next? A cutting edge article on the horrors of suburban life? I love everything about the suburbs - the 3 car garages, the Costcos, the Home Depots, the backyard pools, the space, the trees, the good schools - all the things they do not have in Japan or Europe or China. Jane Jabobs can have her walk up apartment in the big city and her bicycle. She would love China, where the most that middle class people can aspire to is a unit in a high rise. And yes, I like Ikea for certain things, although you really can't beat Chinese rosewood.

This was not a novel, it was just a mildly humorous article with no more weight than that balloon the boy was not in. As such, I enjoyed it. By the way, how could the author have missed the ball room? Kids love it. So do the harried parents.

"Wow! I thought that taking pride in ignorance was strictly an American trait. I didn't know Canadians did it as well."

Canadians mainly take pride in the fact that they are just slightly less ignorant than Americans which is proven by their much lower church attendance rate.

Summary of typical Salon comments:

"This is the worst crap I have ever read - please write more"

And they think Keillor is a loser....

How do you solve a problem like Ikea?

How do catch a Gok and pin it down?

How do you find a word that means Ikea?

A Visdalen, a Klunsa, a clown!

Many a thing you'd like to tell Ikea

Many a thing they ought to understand

When I'm in there I'm confused

Out of focus and bemused

And I never know exactly where I am.

What is it about Salon readers? Are they the most humorless people who have ever existed on the face of the earth? The Ikea names are funny. In fact, you can play the Ikea name game here:

http://www.iamcal.com/games/ikea/

Apparently they are considered quite tasty in southern China and Indonesia.

As for Toyota Land Cruisers, they are about the only way to get around in places like Tibet, so we know what the Dali Lama would drive.

Have we really reached the point where we don't dare to fly, drive, own a dog or eat a peach? As many mass extinctions prove, nature is so robust that it would take virtually the destruction of the planet itself to wipe out life on earth. I'm all for rational conservation, but life is meant to be enjoyed and that means travel and owning a pet if you are so inclined. Nothing wrong with eating dogs either, but I'll stick to peaches.

May I suggest that Wall Street bankers have the perfect opportunity here to make amends for some of the suffering their reckless greed has caused their fellow Americans by donating their spare kidneys. It's the least they can do.

To think I used to laugh when people said bankers run the world.

Now don't go to the other extreme, Jaazee. I love tofu and drive a Prius. I also eat meat and fly a lot and drive a Land Cruiser where it is appropriate (hint - in the Himalayas, not to Home Depot). I don't own a pet, but I can see how some might find them good companions. And what better companion to have than one you can eat if the going gets rough as the going increasingly seems to be going? As for the British, how sad to see a nation that once dominated the world afraid to leave their moldy flats. At least they can still watch great nature programs on the Telly.