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Antique store owners in lower Manhattan, ticket vendors at India's Taj Mahal and Brazilian business executives heading to China all have one thing in common these days: They don't want U.S. dollars.

Hit by a free fall with no end in sight, the once-mighty U.S. dollar is no longer just crashing on currency markets and making life more expensive for American tourists and business people abroad: Its clout is evaporating worldwide as foreign businesses and individuals turn to other currencies.

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[ 14 March 2008: Message edited by: B.L. Zeebub LLD ]

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Originally posted by Sandy47:
You mean local merchants will no longer be treated to such charming Americanisms as "Yeah, but how much is that in real money, boy"?

Dear me. The end of an era? Pity.

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Originally posted by B.L. Zeebub LLD:
...they now complain about how everything is a "rip off" and those "untrustworthy Greeks (e.g.)" are just taking advantage of tourists and charging scalpers prices for goods and services.

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Originally posted by B.L. Zeebub LLD:

I've heard those exact words several times, I'm sorry to say.

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Me too... and in England yet. I had previously heard it in places more... ahm... off the beaten path, but hearing it said with a straight face in Leeds was a waker-upper. The clerk was "gob-smacked" - to say the least.

[ 14 March 2008: Message edited by: Sandy47 ]

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The U.S. economy lost the title of "world's biggest" to the euro zone this week as the value of the dollar slumped in currency markets.

Taking the gross domestic product of both economies in 2007, the combined GDP of the 15 countries which use the euro overtook that of the United States when the European currency surged to a record high of more than $1.56 per euro.

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Originally posted by Proaxiom:

FWIW, they often are ripping off the American tourists -- easy marks.

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Sure. That happens, though in many places (e.g. Turkey) it's not really "ripping off" as they expect bartering. If you don't know how, that's your problem and not an ethical sleight on the seller. Don't get me wrong, the sellers I know in Turkey knew they were easy prey, but from my point of view if you don't understand the customs of the place you're visiting and pay a little extra because of it, you ought to bone up on your research before leaving next time. Oh, and do a gut check and learn to negotiate! It's good for the soul.

But in many cases these tourists would be complaining in restaurants, which charge the same price no matter where you're from. I mentioned Greece because the change from the Drachma to Euros made a huge change in prices and standard of living for locals working the tourist industry in hot spots like Rhodos and Corfu.

[ 15 March 2008: Message edited by: B.L. Zeebub LLD ]

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Originally posted by jester:
They were beside themselves at the thought of their currency being derided by Canadians. One chap was apoplectic that a Canadian had refered to the USD as monopoly money.

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Originally posted by oldgoat:
When's the last time you tried to cross the border, Michelle?

Bet you're on a database.

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Originally posted by Boom Boom:

I love it!!!

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I consider myself a rational,reasonable person but I am somewhat disconcerted by my capacity for schadenfroide at the humbling of American hubris.

I like most Americans and don't think they are much different than Canadians but the proponents of American pre-eminence in the US government get up my nose. The reason for most of the wars in the world is American neo-con shit disturbing to facilitate its need to be the global policeman and perpetuate its unilateral excuse for the use of force.