Click HERE for about the best visual I have seen to date to help people understand an important facet of the current economic mess we are in. (And look for the brief link/reference to China.)

Per a list serve I belong to, I am advised that some people in finance field have commented that it’s a pretty good piece, but also caution that the video falls short in addressing the high level of fraud that was working up and down the pipeline for years, the level of gambling involved with the various forms of mortgage-backed swaps, options, and derivatives that were promoted by Wall Street bankers and Ivy League MBAs (who were clueless about the associated risks), and the backstop role played by our federal government through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that made the whole thing possible.

Your thoughts?

And what about this … if you were asked by a Chinese person at English Corner (if we are able to visit it on this year’s trip; timing will be tricky as this event only takes place on Friday nights but I will do what I can to schedule it in) to explain our current economic predicament, and the role/guilt China plays in this story, does this piece help you better do so? And does English Corner look to be of interest to you (It better; as it will help you better understand part of China’s comparative advantage on certain issues!).

And how would you respond if said person, in their patriotism and love of China looking to knock the US said that Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao was right and on solid ground to publicly rap the knuckles of the US at a recent Davos forum (click HERE for details reported in a recent WSJ article) for its “recklessness” and for primarily being the party who is responsible for world’s deepening economic slump? I.e., will you sheepishly agree, diplomatically push back against said charge, or other, and why/what will you say?

And now that you have read his book, what would Fareed Zakaria say about all of this?