If a surplus is good, then why is Japan, which once produced the world's largest surplus, poor?
The problem is that the Deep State has been exploiting this trade deficit to make money, and at least the United States has benefited hugely in the process.
What is the difference between Japanese people, who live in a rabbit hutch no matter how hard they work, and Arab people, who can live in a mansion without working because they have oil?
At least 10 years ago, if you were middle class in the United States, you could live in a big house, drive a car, and live a happy life.