If the West gets screwed economically wouldn't that be bad for Asia? Certain countries in Asia depend on western consumers. Who could replace the western consumers?

Like it or not, we are all interdependent of each other. If one sinks, the other sink also! So might as well start paddling together!

not necessarily because of consumers. it's because the economies are tied together at this time. but asia is looking toward more domestic market and so is the west in the future. there will still be trade but not on the scale as today. they want to scale down.

the west does not have jobs and need to start manufacturing most of their stuff again and china needs to scale down some manufacturing and concentrate more on domestic market. it also can't keep up that level as it is now consistently anyways, it's just a phase of industrialization. if it did, it would permanently damage habitat and environment which would have a ripple effect on ecosystem.

also, the west is too heavy in consumerist lifestyle that can't be sustained. too damaging to environment, too wasteful also financially. westerners collect a gross amount of material 'stuff'. it's over the top. their identity and feeling fulfilled is too tied to it. this also has to change. this is a time of restructuring and redefining or it will be in the near future. there are a lot of levels to this issue that have to be changed or addressed. it's not just about who the consumers are or wall street.

a major issue is clean technology, sustainability of lifestyle and meeting our (worlds) needs.

I heard that America now has a $100 billion trade with China. According to the politicians, the increase in Chinese consumers is helping to create more jobs for Americans. But I am not sure if it is completely true.

no. it means the west is going to borrow more money from asia to fund their stimulus

Nowadays I can't really trust politicians on the economy without noticeable results. Obama did say some time ago we were "out" of the recession.

I agree with your view on politicians. Hence why I said I wasn't sure whether it was true when politicians say the increase in Chinese consumers creates jobs for Americans.

For the record, I want the West to remain an economic power. That way East Asians will continue to immigrate here. If East Asia becomes the most developed region then no more East Asians would go out to spread their bloodlines and cultures throughout the world. It is the irony of economic prosperity.