Yes, Icerider, the US could survive on it's own, but the standard of living would be drasticly reduced.
And about the EU, consider two things: The rise of the Euro, and the standard of living in countries such as Norway and Sweden.
The US dollar, as I understand it, has been falling for a long time. And the US's foriegn 'policy' doesn't afford them many friends. Not many smart or even mildly informed friends either.
Now the facts began:
U.S.A.
population:280,562,489 (July 2002 est.)
purchasing power parity - $10.082 trillion (2001 est.)
GDP/capita - $36,300 usd (2001 est)
Population below poverty line: 13% (2001 est.)
Debt (external) - $862 billion (1995 est.)
France
Population: 59,765,983 (July 2002 est.)
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.54 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP/capita - purchasing power parity - $25,700 (2002 est.)
Debt(external) : $106 billion (1998)
Sweden
Population - 8,876,744 (July 2002 est.)
GDP - purchasing power parity - $227.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP/capita - purchasing power parity - $25,400 (2002 est.)
Debt (external) - $66.5 billion (1994)
Japan
population: 126,974,628 (July 2002 est.)
GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.55 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP/capita: purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
Iraq
population: 24,001,816 (July 2002 est.)
GDP: purchasing power parity - $59 billion (2001 est.)
GDP/capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2001 est.)
Debt (external): $62.2 billion (2001 est.)
Exports (commodities): crude oil (94% +)
Exports (partners):US 46.2%, Italy 12.2%, France 9.6%, Spain 8.6% (2000)
Imports (commodities): food, medicine, manufactures
Imports (partners): France 22.5%, Australia 22%, China 5.8%, Russia 5.8% (2000)
And how about that SARS, eh?
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