I thought I'd move it out of the moderator folder and into off-topic to hear responses from the rest of you. Sure would be interested in hearing them.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard
[This message has been edited by LordKranar (edited 05-21-2001).] reg
I am finally coming home, back to the best country in the world, the U.S. I leave Korea at the end of June, which means I do not have to go the field any more for a little while. But, while I am home on PCS leave I may be unable to get online. So, if that becomes the case, I will be gone for about 30 days.
I will give you more info when I can. Be well.
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Caels Onae'Rae
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"Don't piss off the petty people and you'll prolly get by in life." reg
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Man of many opinions reg
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~Nindy
"Don't take this the wrong way." reg
Okay that's enough of my singing.
Just remember U.S of A, it's Canada that burned down the white house long ago, and we ain't afraid to do it again.
Mwuhahahaha.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
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Man of many opinions
[This message has been edited by Fralcon (edited 05-20-2001).] reg
Strongest army = U.S
Strongest economy = U.S
Strongest universities = U.S / Germany / England
Most food available = Australia, Canada, U.S
Crime rate in the U.S is horrendous though, there is on average from 1960 to 2000 a murder rate of 17 thousand people a year. In Canada we only have 490 murders a year.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
But if a war broke out between the two, I'd bet the US wins.
And I was just curious to know what you all think...How long before Cold War II begins? US v. China?
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~Nindy
"Don't take this the wrong way." reg
China is in no way shape or form a threat to the U.S. They aren't even real communists in China although the political party might make it seem so.
The first cold war with the U.S.S.R was a major threat because after World War II the U.S.S.R became a superpower along with the U.S. But now that the U.S.S.R is broken and the U.S is the world's only superpower, if ANY political or economic war is to break out, it will be way after I'm dead.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
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~Nindy
"Don't take this the wrong way." reg
So why would China start a war with the US when we have so many allies that would get pissed off.
The only reason I can think of is that the US is in no way ready for a war. A spending war, well thats different. The US can opperate on a almost limitless budget. I don't think there is a country that can outspend the US.
Back to not being ready for war. Well we have what little military we do have spread out all over the world peace keeping religous places and securing I stake in oil rich countries.
I also think its ignorate of us, the US, to think that nobody will attack us because of our two coasts. With some of the new technology the US has made, I wouldn't doubt if China or some other developed country hasn't researched it as well.
For starters the US needs to stop selling our military junk such as fighter jets to underdeveloped countries. Why arm them with something that used to give the rest of the worlds airplanes a run for their money when we could just scrap them and still be superior.
The recent planes that I have seen tested are pilotless. They are super well programmed computers using satelite images and information to launch missles with pin point accuracy, and all at no risk of human loss of life.
They have thought of 99% of all scenarios and the best part is we can launch of fleet of 100 unmaned airplanes, have them communicate with each other so if one happens to get shot down a computer or person will determine which aircraft is the most capable of assuming the others role.
These airplanes are outfited with "lazer spotting" devices, "stealth" technology, and can travel at super sonic speeds for a fraction of the cost of a stealth bomber that has to be manned. The main one I saw, could have the wings removed and packed in a crate so that one of those equipment carrying airplanes could carry 10-15 of them.
Overall...its easier for the US to spend 2billion dollars on a aircraft and 20 million on a lazer guided missle then it is to train and gather fighting forces. Pretty soon I think there will be fleet upon fleet of unmanned aircraft that can take off in the US and fly to point B and blow a single person out of their boots come home re-load and do it again.
Thats just my take however.
Buckwheet reg
I'll be ok no worries. ::zzzzz::
Lord Deprav
Hiding in his bomb shelter eating one-eyes beans. reg
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Man of many opinions reg
But please do continue this interesting debate... perhaps we should move it to the locale for all to bare witness.
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Caels Onae'Rae
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"Don't piss off the petty people and you'll prolly get by in life." reg
Just thought I'd throw this in...
Although it's true the U.S has the strongest economy, the U.S has such a high debt that it's litterally impossible for them to pay it off now (the largest debt in the world, the interest on the debt is what makes it unpayable). There was an interesting essay on how the U.S can even have a remotely strong economy let alone the strongest when they are in so much debt. Basically it described it as being a pyramid of investors, but the investors are investing in a fantasy, something that will never get them profit except for by other investors lower down in what is described as a pyramid. Kind of like Napster and Netscape, investors don't make profit from the companies themselves because those companies have next to no income, but because investors value those companies for whatever reason there may be, the stock has value and can increase in value depending on demand.
It continues to work because every year there are thousands and thousands of new investors to hold the pyramid up so that the pyramid never ends and the value of the U.S dollar can stay strong. However, the downside is that who's to say this pyramid of new investors at the bottom and old investors at the top can hold on forever? If it did end up crumbling, so would the value of the U.S dollar, and it would end up in another big depression.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
I invite anyone who doesn't believe that America is the best country, to live elsewhere for a while and THEN tell me that. The economic status of the regular people in an overwhelming majority of other countries is what we poor people here would consider unbelievably poor. In the countries with socialized medicine routine surgeries have a waiting list of up to over a year. My cousins son lives in France and he was born with his skull plates fused together, which is always fatal and causes brain damage until it is corrected. The delays involved in getting that done there (plus the fact that the Dr.s there agreed that the Dr.s here are better) ended up with him getting the surgery performed in NYC. In many asian countries your career is chosen for you around the time our kids here are going to middle school (whatever happened to Jr High?) and your education is basically training for that career from then on. Of course there are the police states and we all know why no one wants to live there. I know it's trendy to trash this country, and I know there's things wrong here, but all in all we offer the most freedom, the least socialization, and the most protection from our own government than any other place in the world. (with the possible exception of a deserted island)
And if you DO like it better somewhere else, then be my guest and stay there, 20 million immigrants are lined up waiting to take your place.
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Ariah, the wandering minstrel reg
I see none. I just see bitter arguement. reg
I think you're forgetting that it's all relative. The U.S has plenty of problems not only within its own country, but globally. Fralcon's point is one I agree with and that has to do with American arrogance as well as ignorance. Ask a regular Joe walking in downtown N.Y what country has the best legal system and they will answer the U.S, then ask them how many other legal systems do they know of, and they won't know how other legal systems work or will be dead wrong about them. Then ask them about how THEIR OWN legal system works and chances are they won't even know jack squat about the American legal system. (survey has already been done, heh).
Ariah pointed at the health issue and gave a specific example of someone in another country needing to get treament in the U.S. Might also be worth noting that there are plenty of examples of people in the U.S who can't get the treatment they need because of privatized health care and who die because of it. Best health care according to the U.N is in Canada where health care is public, and equal for everyone.
Pollution is also another downfall in the U.S as well as the crime rate. The U.S has the worlds highest crime rate hands down, infact crime in the U.S is close to a billion dollar industry. I think it's wrong to make a blanket statement that the U.S is the BEST country in the world, I'm not American and although I don't hate the country (because that would be just equally arrogant), I will say that I would never want to move there. England, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, and many others all other great countries with happy citizens who wouldn't think twice about moving to the U.S.
I sure would love to hear some of your thoughts on Canada though, I've heard so many hilarious statements about Canada from Americans and they always get funnier and funnier.
We're all eskimo's! You have to wear a winter jacket in the middle of Auguest! We all play hockey or curling! We end every sentence with eh?
Oh... keep em comming.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard
[This message has been edited by LordKranar (edited 05-29-2001).] reg
<<But if a war broke out between the two, I'd bet the US wins.>>
Haha, you bet? For those of you that like figures, in 1990, Iraq had the 4th largest military in the world. The 3 above it were China, the USSR, and the US. It also had one of the best anti air defenses in the world, arguably second best to the USSR. We lost more people to friendly fire than we did
to hostile fire. Another thing, if ONE of our Navy's SSBNs (fleet ballistic missle submarine) were to declare itself an independent nation, it would have the world's third heaviest arsenal. Canada probably couldn't even beat a country like Mexico in a war.
<<Although it's true the U.S has the strongest economy, the U.S has such a high debt that it's litterally impossible for them to pay it off now (the largest debt in the world, the interest on the debt is what makes it unpayable). There was an interesting essay on how the U.S can even have a remotely strong economy let alone the strongest when they are in so much debt.>>
The debt isn't a 'debt' like me owing you 20 bucks. It's a pretty esoteric thing that most people have completely the wrong idea about. From the looks of your post, I doubt you actually know what it is.
Moving along...
For those of you who think that a country's military strength is not important, let history back me up when I say it is essential. The best nations have always had the best militaries. Being in the military, I suppose I'm a bit biased, but it was my belief in it's necessity that lead me to offer myself to it.
In the age of diplomacy most of us feel pretty safe from the threat of war. Obviously I'm not sure, but I'd be willing to bet that in the next 50 years or so we'll see some decisive things happen when diplomacy fails us. When resources run low or political squabbles get out of hand, the countries without a powerful military will either be assimilated or devestated.
I'm also interested in hearing just which country Fraclon or whatever thinks is the best, and why. Please do enlighten.
Nietslaf reg
Currently the U.S national debt is at:
$5,772,523,327,634.26
And it increases $7842.28 per second. The debt is so high that it can never be payed off, what keeps the U.S dollar so valuable though is the pyramid of investors I described earlier. New people constantly investing in the U.S economy keeping it alive. (these investors are also from other parts of the world and international investors help keep the pyramid up better than national investors)
So I guess the question is... "Who does the government actually owe this money to?". They owe it first off to the people, Canada is in the same boat. If you own a government savings bond you are owed part of the debt, same thing if you have a registered retirement savings plan. Problem is that the government doesn't have the money it owes you, so it either borrows money from other countries which means interest, or it prints more money which is the leading cause of inflation. Either way the U.S government spends too much money and instead of cutting back on money it's relying on the pyramid of new investors to keep the economy booming, and to keep the dollar strong.
It sure is an interesting topic, but luckily for me Canada has eliminated the deficit entirely and is now working on eliminating the debt.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard
[This message has been edited by LordKranar (edited 05-29-2001).] reg
One thing I know is that war evolves. At one point it was faught with sticks and stones (cave men), then with shields and swords (mideval), then with just guns and knives, then atomic bombs, airplanes, and tanks, and now with economy. Who's to say that the U.S has what it takes to win the next evolution in war? Who knows what the next evolution in war will even be?
The next war may not be against a single country but may be against a world wide terrorist organization.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
4 million dollars.
its healthy to have a little bit of debt, though granted not as much as the US. Its not like the foreign banks are expecting the payments anytime soon.
Have to have an awful big repo man...
hey, and your all missing the most important aspect of a good country.
the women!
america women are by far the best (with maybe a slight nod to the latin countries)
'lood
reg
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Man of many opinions reg
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Man of many opinions reg
Sure anyone can say the U.S. isn't the best just like any other country isn't the best. Not a real jump of logic.
reg
I do know that pollution-wise the US is much better than what I have been living in for the past year. *gags* Also, the population vs. living space is enough for me; cram the entire US population into a mountainous area the size of Indiana and you have S. Korea... now take away the variety of people, all you see anywhere you go is brown hair, brown eyes, and yellow skin, with the occasional radical that dyes his/her hair purple, green, red, white, or any combination of such.
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Caels Onae'Rae
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"Don't piss off the petty people and you'll prolly get by in life."
[This message has been edited by Caels (edited 05-30-2001).] reg
The next war may not be against a single country but may be against a world wide terrorist organization.>>
The current form of warfare is not economical. It's still militaristic. We (American's) don't spend 40% of our taxes for no good reason. Sanctions are not war, they are a result of war. I'm one of the people who think we should have claimed Japan when they surrendered, not revamp their government and make them abide by certain restrictions. Too many American's died for ultimately nothing.
In some cases, as I'm sure we'll eventually see, when talking won't do the trick, we'll have to go in and kill the people that oppose our way. Some people, namely lame hippies, jump on that 'it's not right to do that' band wagon, but it's only survival of the fittest. For example, we needed to keep uranium out of the hands of certain nations, so we took action in Kosovo. Why didn't we do anything in Rwanda? Because like me, the overwhelming majority of servicepeople are not willing to put their lives on the line for a bunch of dirty foreigners. If it's in America's interest, I'm there, but if it's for a 'humanitarian effort', let them kill each other I say.
Nietslaf reg
Somehow I highly doubt this. Terrorism does not pose such a big threat as China does. In the upcoming 20 years we will see how our policy for China developes. If we don't take drastic action I believe that China will become militaristically superior and the world leader, such as the US is today. I'd recommend to bomb China into hell. reg
We have sooo many "allies". That is the most Absurd thing I've ever heard. We don't have many allies and we are loosing the very few allies we had. We just got voted off the Humanity board of the UN. Nato, which was formed basically formed by the US won't back out missile defense program. Do you see what 8 years of Clinton did to America? We are loosing our edge and we must gain it back.
reg
Nietslaf, out of curiosity, would you care to elaborate on that statement?
Aerienne reg
Overall, the United States does a fair job in each of these categories. I personally would not want to take my chances living elsewhere.
Canada is a nice place to annex, but I wouldn't want to live there <g>
And as for the best looking people overall, I would have to cast my vote for the Netherlands. Out of all the places I have been, they have had the highest proportion of people, both male and female, who rank in what I consider to be average to extremely good looking category.
Aerienne reg
-Pirub reg