Isn't this question also in that scene from that first episode of that HBO TV show? I think it's called The Newsroom. There's a big speech in that scene that I can't remember, but gives a good answer to this question.
The settled-upon answer the show gives is "it isn't, but it can be."
To be fair I was posting a hot chick from your country. If us aussies start posting hot chicks from our country, the internet breaks from too much awesome.
That's pretty nihilistic. Have you been everywhere in the globe? I haven't, but I enjoy quite a few locations and cultures - some within the US. Why does everywhere you've been suck?
Automatically Appended Next Post:
motyak wrote: To be fair I was posting a hot chick from your country. If us aussies start posting hot chicks from our country, the internet breaks from too much awesome.
And I fully support this claim. Just imagine if we diversified further..... but wait, that's a different website....
ENOZONE wrote: That's pretty nihilistic. Have you been everywhere in the globe? I haven't, but I enjoy quite a few locations and cultures - some within the US. Why does everywhere you've been suck?
Nope I haven't and don't want to and Many reasons. But it's not that everywhere sucks just that nowhere is the greatest.
And I fully support this claim. Just imagine if we diversified further..... but wait, that's a different website....
Mesa resident Holly Solomon thinks it's her husband's fault that President Obama was re-elected last week, because he didn't vote.
Not only does Solomon, 28, have a thorough misunderstanding of our nation's electoral system, she also ran over her husband with her car because of this, according to Gilbert police.
In an e-mail to media, Gilbert police Sergeant Jesse Sanger says the argument started in a parking lot Saturday morning over Daniel Solomon's lack of voter participation.
"According to Daniel, Holly believed her family was going to face hardship as a result of President Obama's re-election," Sanger says.
Witnesses told police that there was a lot of yelling before Holly Solomon hopped in her Jeep, and started chasing her husband around the parking lot.
Her husband tried to use a light pole to shield himself, and Solomon drove around the light pole several times as she continued to yell at him.
Eventually, her husband made a run for it, but Solomon hit him, pinning him under the car and on a curb, according to police.
Daniel Solomon's currently in critical condition at a hospital.
Holly Solomon was booked into jail on charges of domestic violence and aggravated assault, and there are no indications she was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time, according to Sanger.
It should be noted that President Obama won a grand total of zero of Arizona's 11 electoral votes, so it wouldn't have helped if Daniel Solomon had voted for Romney 1,000 times.
Because we have this entertainment every single day...
Because it is made of almost all nations of Earth combined ( settlers and all )?
Because of to much freedom it gave to it's citizens?
And because they use superior military power and diplomacy to get what they want trough war or sanctions?
WARNING: the posts in spoiler are probably not for Americans to read. No offence of any kind is written but it's still not for their eyes/
Spoiler:
Don't get me wrong, I love American people and culture. But I hate how their love to mess with foreign relationships and stick their nose into other countries business. Ok, so you helped us kick Hitler and won WW2 - thank you. That doesn't mean that whenever civil war or simple war starts you have to sanction and bombard everything, leave other countries business for them to handle ( like Syria, who cares if people die that's their internal thing and we shouldn't interfere ).
But that era will be over soon, as US economy is weakening and China is becoming stronger and stronger every day. Not to mention that Putin is planning to form USSR again ( as Euroasian Coalition yes, but still... ) and that he already reform and modernize Russian army. It is only a matter of decade when US will not be lone superpower anymore in the world.
US had a LOT of luck when it comes to history and warfare. With French help they won war against the British ( the only nation who was able to beat them in long terms ), and they are in position where they cannot be attacked by anyone ( 2 oceans form natural barrier for any other superpower to attack them ). They helped won WW1 by sending million solders when Germans already spent all their reserves. They helped won WW2 by overwhelming their foes like Orks ( they had 80,000 planes all types and over 50,000 Sherman tanks, do the math and it will get clear ) and they ended it by nuking two towns into oblivion...
But on the bright side US have many positive things, like giving every individual chance to succeed in life or at least having a normal life if it's possible. I also love many of US cities, how they are build and their monuments and buildings. I also love music bands coming from US and the thing I love most when it comes to USA - NASA
To tell you the truth, I would love to come and work in US some day. Because it's still great country for you to earn some money and actually build a house and secure you and your next two generations from several years work in it.
Why do I get the impression posted this as a rhetorical question and this was.only open to discussion by US patriots.
Meh, I like america but when you have school kids doing the pledge it's kind of like shoving patriotism and how "great" america is down their throat.
Just look at youtube comments, idiotic fools claiming they won the war and we owe them. No your ancestors did but without britain you wouldn't exist. So we'd be even
I agree whole heartedly that we spend too much time in other people's business. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the individuals' outlook), our world in increasingly global, and what goes on in various nations' stock exchanges affect what happens in other nations as much as media "events"
I find it hard for America as a nation to stay out of other people's business, when you have countries like France calling on us to all their dirty work when anything at all goes awry.
As a currently serving member of the armed forces, I will tell you that we should probably not be in all the places that we are. I am in no position of course, to affect policy, but were it up to me, I would limit where and how we operate... I mean, I don't think we can afford to go as far as our isolationist roots, but multi-theater wars are also very bad in the long run for more people.
If the stated values of the country matches your own ideas of worth, it makes it a great place.
I could agree on the cheap price of games workshop stuff and alcohol alone but that is not all my happiness.
In Canada we pack in everyone from all over, get a lecture on playing nice, have a little bit of a socialist system safety net to make sure rock bottom is not deadly and have enough systems in place to make sure everyone has a fair shot at a minimum standard of living if they want it. I have a good life and friends from ten different countries and could not imagine wanting it different.
Who knows, maybe the challenge and a little bit of fear in the American spirit helps keep the country's edge and makes it the aggressive worldly power it is today. It all depends on what you hold dear.
motyak wrote: To be fair I was posting a hot chick from your country. If us aussies start posting hot chicks from our country, the internet breaks from too much awesome.
As my quote in Motyak's sig suggests, I heartily agree with this sentiment, Aussie girls are awesome... I really should just change my name to Bruce and move already. Don't let the girlfriend find out though, Italian American girls are feisty and she'd skin my Irish arse alive.
Back OT
Why is America the greatest nation on earth? Well it's certainly not because of our popular brands of beer...
I'd say America's unique combination of statues with immigration, global business factors, etc have lead to our current state on top of the pile. I wouldn't say here is really better then any where else. I love my country and I'm happy to be where I am, but I'm sure I could be happy had I been born else where. Really if you're in the first world there's no use comparing because it's just a different part of Easy Street from the rest of the first world. Even being completely screwed in First World Europe or the U.S. beats the hell out of the "normal" life style of the second or third world.
I am much more partial to Oregon myself At least there we have all of the major types of terrain: desert, beach, forest, rain forest, mountain, city. And each one is, depending on where you live only a couple hours at most away.
As far as quality of life for the people living in the country, that's debatable. I'm on buissness right now in Canada, and they seem to have a fine quality of life here.
There ain't a greatest nation on Earth. America is pretty good though. We've got a lot of cool rights, and a republic, and those kinda stuff. Some countries don't have 1st amendment type laws, so that sucks. I like being able to talk loudly.
I'm not very patriotic, unlike how a lot of other Americans are. It's not like its the only free nation or only 1st world nation on Earth. That being said, I'm still patriotic-ish. I root for America and I don't break the law, and that kinda stuff.
Are some people here trying to say there are countries other than America? because I highly doubt that....because America is the only country that automatically makes us the greatest!
^ That's not about slavery, that's about the increase of federal power, which has led America into the dreary state of affair in which it finds itself today.
Ratbarf wrote: I would say it was, and then Lincoln ruined it.
^ That's not about slavery, that's about the increase of federal power, which has led America into the dreary state of affair in which it finds itself today.
\
er...what?
Please elaborate on this "dreary state of affair"...
ENOZONE wrote: What do you think? Why or why not? If not, which is and why? What defines greatness?
Someone's been watching "Thank You For Smoking" lol
Please explain, I haven't seen the movie in over 5 years so I don't really know what you're talking about.
nomsheep wrote:
ENOZONE wrote: That's pretty nihilistic. Have you been everywhere in the globe? I haven't, but I enjoy quite a few locations and cultures - some within the US. Why does everywhere you've been suck?
Nope I haven't and don't want to and Many reasons. But it's not that everywhere sucks just that nowhere is the greatest.
Share with us your reasons. It's a fairly strong statement to say that nowhere on the planet is there a place of non-suckyness but not supporting the claim by saying, "Well, I haven't been everywhere, but have reasons why everywhere sucks."
And I fully support this claim. Just imagine if we diversified further..... but wait, that's a different website....
Just go to 4chan.
Or hub , or you , or surfers, lessons, or
And to clear things up, this question wasn't meant to be rhetorical - it's meant to tickle the brain.
ENOZONE wrote: That's pretty nihilistic. Have you been everywhere in the globe? I haven't, but I enjoy quite a few locations and cultures - some within the US. Why does everywhere you've been suck?
Nope I haven't and don't want to and many reasons. But it's not that everywhere sucks just that nowhere is the greatest.
Share with us your reasons. It's a fairly strong statement to say that nowhere on the planet is there a place of non-suckyness but not supporting the claim by saying, "Well, I haven't been everywhere, but have reasons why everywhere sucks."
I may not have made this clear but twas in response to your original question of why everywhere I'd been had sucked.
The last place I lived had a surprisingly high crime rate, (I myself was mugged three times in the space of a year,) low employment rates, most of the town centre has been replaced with new shops or nothing because the entire town is dying and it's completely covered in graffiti. So yup they really suck. And everyone seems to be on or have been on drugs at some point (though that may have just been my circle of friends).
It's not awful, but it's far from great. Therefore it does suck.
The land is what does it for me. There are so many natural wonders concentrated in this country. Anyone who has visited any of the national parks can attest to the stunning beauty of the landscape. Grand Canyon National Park, Redwood National Park, Sequoia NP, Arches NP, The Great Sand Dunes NP, Crater Lake NP, The Everglades, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Ne Pali Coast, Mount McKinley, Mt. St. Helens, the Rockies, the Appalachians, Glacier NP, the list goes on and on.
Now, I realize that a country is not the land it lays claim to, and all these natural wonders (and maybe more) would exist whether the US itself existed or not, and that there are other, equally magnificent works of nature elsewhere in the world. However, this does not preclude being proud of the variety, scale, and beauty of the natural landscape and wildlife that exists within our boundaries.
I'm curious as to what reasoning you come to that America is the greatest nation on earth beyond the YEEHAW 'MERICA! brainwashing that seems fairly common.
Yeah any one of these list could be criticised and picked apart but I think it gets the message through.
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
Madcat87 wrote: I'm curious as to what reasoning you come to that America is the greatest nation on earth beyond the YEEHAW 'MERICA! brainwashing that seems fairly common.
Yeah any one of these list could be criticised and picked apart but I think it gets the message through.
You do what we say about statistics dontcha?
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
Yeah... pretty much this.
We may squabble with one another... but, woe to any outsider trying to butt in!
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
Yeah... pretty much this.
We may squabble with one another... but, woe to any outsider trying to butt in!
You think squabbling with guns is a point of pride?
If that's the criteria for greatest nation on earth than I guess Afghanistan is a lot greater than America. They have been in a state of social unrest since the 1980's. Kabul must be the widow capital of the world, given how many dead husbands there are. And woe to any outsider butting in? America has nothing on Afghanistan. Afghanistan has hundreds of years of history resisting occupation. They call Afghanistan the Graveyard of Empires.
Somalia, Pakistan, Pakistan's tribal areas and more are squabbling with one another with guns and bombs and 'woe to any outsider trying to butt in.'
And if you think having a lot of guns is such a cool thing, know that there are about 30 thousand suicides in USA and the largest percentage (I think it's half) of those are by firearms. Forget murder and shooting in self-defense, most people killed by guns in America are unhappy people killing themselves. And suicide becomes a lot easier when the methods a your disposal are lethal. Women try to kill themselves a lot more than men, but men use deadlier methods, like hanging and shooting. In fact, most suicide attempts fail. I wonder how much lower the American suicide rate would be if they didn't "have the most guns" and "willingness to use them."
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
Yeah... pretty much this.
We may squabble with one another... but, woe to any outsider trying to butt in!
You think squabbling with guns is a point of pride?
Who says we're squabbling with guns?
If that's the criteria for greatest nation on earth than I guess Afghanistan is a lot greater than America.
lolwut?
They have been in a state of social unrest since the 1980's. Kabul must be the widow capital of the world, given how many dead husbands there are. And woe to any outsider butting in?
What does that have to do with the conversation on hand?
America has nothing on Afghanistan. Afghanistan has hundreds of years of history resisting occupation. They call Afghanistan the Graveyard of Empires.
Somalia, Pakistan, Pakistan's tribal areas and more are squabbling with one another with guns and bombs and 'woe to any outsider trying to butt in.'
Wait... are you saying we're "squabbling" amongs each other with guns and bombs, ala Pakistan/Afghanistan? Whatever you're smoking dude... PASS.IT.TO.ME!
And if you think having a lot of guns is such a cool thing, know that there are about 30 thousand suicides in USA and the largest percentage (I think it's half) of those are by firearms.
Uh... if someone wants to kill him/herself... they'd find something else if gunz weren't handy.
Forget murder and shooting in self-defense, most people killed by guns in America are unhappy people killing themselves.
um... what? seriously, what blend are you smoking? The Big Bud?
And suicide becomes a lot easier when the methods a your disposal are lethal.
I'm sensing a theme here...
Women try to kill themselves a lot more than men, but men use deadlier methods, like hanging and shooting. In fact, most suicide attempts fail. I wonder how much lower the American suicide rate would be if they didn't "have the most guns" and "willingness to use them."
aha! A gun hater! There's the answer.
Let me first start off by saying that I truly believe there's no fething reason to opt yourself out. None.
However, if someone decides it, they're going to do it irregardless if guns were accessible.
And now that I'm riled up... yes, America is fething awesome. We just had one of the most closest, hotly contested election in recent years... and THERE'S NO CIVIL WAR! YEAH!
I'm not saying America is bad, I'm just saying that guns don't make a country great. Suicide is often a quick, sometimes ill-thought reaction. So yes, the methods accessible do make a difference on whether someone who tries to kill themselves succeed. I am also not a gun hater, I am just aware of the effect their proliferation has on the suicide rate.
I'm not smoking anything. Proportionally, most gun deaths in America are suicides, not homicides. Shocking, isn't it?
Not really, it's the same in Switzerland, you're not going to bother setting up a noose or pull out a straight razor if there's a Sig Saur assault rifle (an ACTUAL assault rifle) with ammunition in the closet now are you?
Please elaborate on this "dreary state of affair"...
I think I would beg to differ.
Well, you've essentially become an Empire, your constitution is run over roughshod by your politicians and government nearly everyday and no one seems to care, your legal system is broken, your government is the most irresponsible out of the entire Western World, your democracy is broken, and the federal government and president frequently overstep their authority and no one bats an eyelash, infact they're frequently lauded for it. Lincoln was the pebble that started the avalanche, though he was more of a boulder than a pebble.
Basically if the founding fathers were to suddenly come back from the dead (with their faculties intact of course) I feel they would be utterly ashamed of what their once great country has become.
Please elaborate on this "dreary state of affair"...
I think I would beg to differ.
Well, you've essentially become an Empire, your constitution is run over roughshod by your politicians and government nearly everyday and no one seems to care, your legal system is broken, your government is the most irresponsible out of the entire Western World, your democracy is broken, and the federal government and president frequently overstep their authority and no one bats an eyelash, infact they're frequently lauded for it. Lincoln was the pebble that started the avalanche, though he was more of a boulder than a pebble.
Basically if the founding fathers were to suddenly come back from the dead (with their faculties intact of course) I feel they would be utterly ashamed of what their once great country has become.
I heard that America is a nice place to live, apparently they have running water and electricity.
Brother Captain Alexander wrote: Because it is made of almost all nations of Earth combined ( settlers and all )?
Because of to much freedom it gave to it's citizens?
And because they use superior military power and diplomacy to get what they want trough war or sanctions?
WARNING: the posts in spoiler are probably not for Americans to read. No offence of any kind is written but it's still not for their eyes/
Spoiler:
Don't get me wrong, I love American people and culture. But I hate how their love to mess with foreign relationships and stick their nose into other countries business. Ok, so you helped us kick Hitler and won WW2 - thank you. That doesn't mean that whenever civil war or simple war starts you have to sanction and bombard everything, leave other countries business for them to handle ( like Syria, who cares if people die that's their internal thing and we shouldn't interfere ).
But that era will be over soon, as US economy is weakening and China is becoming stronger and stronger every day. Not to mention that Putin is planning to form USSR again ( as Euroasian Coalition yes, but still... ) and that he already reform and modernize Russian army. It is only a matter of decade when US will not be lone superpower anymore in the world.
US had a LOT of luck when it comes to history and warfare. With French help they won war against the British ( the only nation who was able to beat them in long terms ), and they are in position where they cannot be attacked by anyone ( 2 oceans form natural barrier for any other superpower to attack them ). They helped won WW1 by sending million solders when Germans already spent all their reserves. They helped won WW2 by overwhelming their foes like Orks ( they had 80,000 planes all types and over 50,000 Sherman tanks, do the math and it will get clear ) and they ended it by nuking two towns into oblivion...
But on the bright side US have many positive things, like giving every individual chance to succeed in life or at least having a normal life if it's possible. I also love many of US cities, how they are build and their monuments and buildings. I also love music bands coming from US and the thing I love most when it comes to USA - NASA
To tell you the truth, I would love to come and work in US some day. Because it's still great country for you to earn some money and actually build a house and secure you and your next two generations from several years work in it.
I absolutely love it when people who have no idea what they are talking about use this (the bolded, underlined and italiced text in the spoiler) as an argument for why America is bad, it makes me lol, hard. However, I don't want to start an off-topic gakstorm, so i won't say anything.
If i had to pick a greatest nation I would pick USA, not because I believe it's the best, because I couldn't pick the best, so I default to where I live.
I have never gone hungry, I have had a job since I was 14, I have had cable tv and internet for most of my life.
I have also been busted for smoking a plant that grows from the ground, peeing on a bush in a park, and being outside after a certain time( three different incidents btw)
Madcat87 wrote: I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.
Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.
What have you done for me lately?
The last time a man set foot on the damn moon was December 1972.
We should be ashamed that its been 40 god-damned years since we did anything significant in space. Not touting how great it was.
First, NASA needs an overhaul. If private companies can spend people into space for less than it costs the government of China, NASA is doing something wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX Secondly, after the overhaul, we should dramatically increase the NASA budget. NASAs budget is less than half it was (as a percentage of federal budget) than it was in 1992. Bring it back to a level where it can do some good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA
labmouse42 wrote: Secondly, after the overhaul, we should dramatically increase the NASA budget. NASAs budget is less than half it was (as a percentage of federal budget) than it was in 1992. Bring it back to a level where it can do some good.
Democrats don't fund NASA nowadays. No votes in it.
Madcat87 wrote: I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.
Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.
Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.
Krellnus wrote: I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
First, you make the assumption that because Australia produces more of those goods, that the US is dependent on the goods from Australia. Just because something is black, does not make it white. In a similar fashion, just because Australia produces more of those goods does not mean the US produces none.
I use GDP as the measuring stick because purchasing power is what effects the world economy. If the US falls, the global economy will take the biggest crash from any single country.
Note, I do not talk about 'quality of life' as what makes a great country. This is because 'great' is a very subjective term. If your talking about quality of life, then Ireland is where you want to live. Australia is also better than the US in this category.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index
Madcat87 wrote: I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.
Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.
Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.
I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.
Germany would be a good bet, not going as far down with the euro crisis. Being econmical methodical and with a low religion rate.
Combie that with Japan the UK Canada an America for that money! Oh and Norway and perhaps some of the other nordic countries. Perhaps australia and new zealand can join in. Why not everyone? Except the french, they can feth off.
Anywhere with a good human rights record in recent times is a candidate.
Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy
Madcat87 wrote: I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.
Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.
Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.
I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.
You know, I bet that a month later, Australia will unveil its new doomsday weapon - the Orbital Drop Bear Strike Satellite.
Jihadin wrote: Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy
On that note, why do funeral homes offer a 25-year guaranteed coffin? Are you supposed to dig it up in 24 years and get your money back if it leaked or something?
Bury my ass in a pine box or cremate me and find a nice beach somewhere.
Jihadin wrote: Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy
On that note, why do funeral homes offer a 25-year guaranteed coffin? Are you supposed to dig it up in 24 years and get your money back if it leaked or something?
Bury my ass in a pine box or cremate me and find a nice beach somewhere.
I want to be molded into bullets and shot at my enemies. I have a list.
Madcat87 wrote: I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.
Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.
Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.
I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.
You know, I bet that a month later, Australia will unveil its new doomsday weapon - the Orbital Drop Bear Strike Satellite.
Cuddliest weapon of massed fething destruction ever. The tweens of this country would demand for Bieber's head on a pike as sacrifice to our new Koala Overlords.
To give America it's due, when you ask for a cheesburger, you get a cheeseburger not the sorry excuse that passes for one in the UK.
On the negative side, they know feth all about real cheese, beer, and a majority of the population recently voted for a guy named after an oven glove to be president
I want to be cremated, a quarter of me should be stuck in the dirt somewhere so if anyone gives a gak they can come talk to me or whatever one does to dead people. The rest I want scattered into the jet stream.
Back to my skies to never stop flying? I'm good with that.
Seaward wrote: You're contending that Australia's more powerful than the US?
Okay.
Let's map that response out.
Poster 1: the US has all the guns and is willing to use them.
Poster 2: GDP something
Poster 3 OZ is da best we make more of the thing the US wants.
He's not saying OZ is more powerful than the US, he's pointing out what a juicy target it is...obviously. While we're dropping by might as well take NZ, what are they going to do? Nuke us?
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote: To give America it's due, when you ask for a cheesburger, you get a cheeseburger not the sorry excuse that passes for one in the UK.
On the negative side, they know feth all about...beer.
The answer is obvious: Because we have the most country music proclaiming that "America = #1!" and, as if that wasn't enough, we wave our miniature American flag harder than you guys wave your puny, less garish flags.
America is a great country. Simply in terms of size and breadth (either in terms of people or geography) it is a great place. Culturally it is also great, having produced many of the great artistic movments of the 20th century.
But the idea of the 'greatest' country is just nonsense. How can anyone state one great country has more great parts than another great country. The whole idea is just ridiculous, really.
Krellnus wrote: Not necessarily. Australia produces: More Iron Ore than you More Alumina than you More Bauxite than you More Bismuth than you More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply) More Zinc than you I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.
Resources matter, but they are certainly not the only thing that matters, and they're not even the most important thing. GDP, for instance, really does matter more. This is why Australia has a position on the global stage that's a few ticks above it's relative standings in GDP, but never that far above it.
I mean, when the US decides to set on some diplomatic or economic policy Australia will jump on board and follow. This is because they are more powerful than us.
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Kilkrazy wrote: America is the second greatest nation because Japan produces a greater amount and variety of porn.
Actually, the US is the biggest producer of porn. By about a factor of ten, IIRC.
Variety on the other hand, I'll grant you. It can't really be measured, but from what I've seen of the Japanese stuff...
ENOZONE wrote: So.. the criteria of greatest nation includes so far: Money, military, food, natural resources, the adult film industry... and.... that's it?
Well what else would there be? Food, resources, porn, guns to defend the former entries from people who want your food, resources and porn and money to get all of the above.
ENOZONE wrote: So.. the criteria of greatest nation includes so far: Money, military, food, natural resources, the adult film industry... and.... that's it?
Well what else would there be? Food, resources, porn, guns to defend the former entries from people who want your food, resources and porn and money to get all of the above.
ENOZONE wrote: So.. the criteria of greatest nation includes so far: Money, military, food, natural resources, the adult film industry... and.... that's it?
Well what else would there be? Food, resources, porn, guns to defend the former entries from people who want your food, resources and porn and money to get all of the above.
I am appropriately cowed by this gentleman's incredible facial hair.
Obviously I'm biased, but I'll make the case for Great (it's in the name ) Britain.
A tiny, island in the north atlantic, with scant resources and population (compared to larger countries) that built the modern world through trade, empire building, and the spread of the English language. And as a recent thread showed, invaded 90% of the world's countries at one time or another. Expect Mongolia, as nobody messes with them!
Obviously, you can pick holes in a lot of things about the UK, but in terms of legacy, and cultural achievement, nobody comes close. With Britain, there would have been no USA.
Case closed. I'm off to watch family guy whilst eating a krispy creme donought
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote: Obviously I'm biased, but I'll make the case for Great (it's in the name ) Britain.
A tiny, island in the north atlantic, with scant resources and population (compared to larger countries) that built the modern world through trade, empire building, and the spread of the English language. And as a recent thread showed, invaded 90% of the world's countries at one time or another. Expect Mongolia, as nobody messes with them!
Obviously, you can pick holes in a lot of things about the UK, but in terms of legacy, and cultural achievement, nobody comes close. With Britain, there would have been no USA.
Case closed. I'm off to watch family guy whilst eating a krispy creme donought
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote: Obviously, you can pick holes in a lot of things about the UK, but in terms of legacy, and cultural achievement, nobody comes close. With Britain, there would have been no USA.
The UK has been a great power and shaped the world, of that there is no doubt.
However, if you want to speak about historical context, would it not be fair to also mention the other world powers?
Britain may have helped to spread the English language, for example, but there are many Spanish speaking countries as well.
How can you compare the long arm of Britain to the power of the Roman Empire?
Going off historical context makes the question considerably more muddy -- which is why the question has been in terms of present day power.
I do wish to sound as if I speak ill of the UK. Per-capita, they wield considerable amount of power, and great amounts of comedic humor. Not only did the UK bring forth Warhammer 40k, it also brought the best-written television show of all time
KalashnikovMarine wrote: I'd be open to discussing the Great Britain as the world's greatest, if in all that history you people could figure out how to make some decent chow.
KalashnikovMarine wrote: I'd be open to discussing the Great Britain as the world's greatest, if in all that history you people could figure out how to make some decent chow.
we invented potatoes.
Wrong :lex luthor face:. It was first domesticated in Peru.
As I said earlier, when the Americans start making decent bread, cheese and beer, then they can lecture us on chow!!
And don't get me started on root beer
I've been to quite a few countries and I haven't really found any place that makes exceptionally better bread as here, especially the UK. Though I am rather partial to scones.
We literally have laws against good cheese.
And despite this constant bickering about beer I have yet to find a type of beer brewed on your silly island that isn't made here as well.
And also:
Alfndrate wrote: We have good cheese here, it doesn't have the rich tradition or history as other countries, but let's be honest, no one likes Vermont or Wisconsin.
Being honest, even Wisconsin doesn't like Wisconsin
Alfndrate wrote: We have good cheese here, it doesn't have the rich tradition or history as other countries, but let's be honest, no one likes Vermont or Wisconsin.
Being honest, even Wisconsin doesn't like Wisconsin
Wisconsin just likes the Packers and the Badgers...
If my wife ever get a posting to UK I will fire up the grill on a nice sunny day...with slight easy winds...and commence mental torture by overflooding the UKers since of smell of steaks over an open fire...throw in a babyback rib...with some beef ribs...asparagus.....I wll go all out and create my minions by enticing them with food.....
Jihadin wrote: If my wife ever get a posting to UK I will fire up the grill on a nice sunny day...with slight easy winds...and commence mental torture by overflooding the UKers since of smell of steaks over an open fire...throw in a babyback rib...with some beef ribs...asparagus.....I wll go all out and create my minions by enticing them with food.....
Edit: The best turkey I've ever had was cooked in 2 different ways. The first was deep fried turkey, which is amazing! and then the second best was something I cooked that was covered in sage butter and then we put this like bacon shirt on the front of the bird to hold of the juices in and add the bacon flavoring
Hedgehog wrote: America isn't the greatest country in the world - I've tasted its chocolate (though I don't think you can call a Hershey bar actual chocolate).
On this measure therefore Switzerland leads the way, with Belgium not too far behind...
Italy wins on the ice cream front.
Well, if we want to really go down this road:
Italy wins Ice Cream
German wins beer
Switzerland wins watches
Scotland wins whisky (or whiskey if you prefer)
kronk wrote: Deep Fried turkey is fething awesome.
And this is why so many Americans are overweight.
Are you kidding me?!
it's the McDonalds on every street corner Wait you're telling me I can sit in a line for 10 minutes to get a burger that costs 5 cents to make? I mean you get better and quicker service walking in to the place lol
kronk wrote: Deep Fried turkey is fething awesome.
And this is why so many Americans are overweight.
Are you kidding me?!
it's the McDonalds on every street corner Wait you're telling me I can sit in a line for 10 minutes to get a burger that costs 5 cents to make? I mean you get better and quicker service walking in to the place lol
You can still eat crap and be thin so long as you're active enough to use up those calories, what's really causing obesity is a combination of inactivity and bad diets.
Hedgehog wrote: America isn't the greatest country in the world - I've tasted its chocolate (though I don't think you can call a Hershey bar actual chocolate).
On this measure therefore Switzerland leads the way, with Belgium not too far behind...
Italy wins on the ice cream front.
Well, if we want to really go down this road:
Italy wins Ice Cream
German wins beer
Switzerland wins watches
Scotland wins whisky (or whiskey if you prefer)
...and 'Murica wins in trucks
Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, and the entire nation of Ireland would like to have a word with you.
Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, and the entire nation of Ireland would like to have a word with you.
let them come, I honestly prefer a good single malt to a blend, Irish, Bourbon, or Kentucky whiskey.
Although, I think we also win here in America with historical celebrities... I mean, it's hard to beat quotes from Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Colt and the like
Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, and the entire nation of Ireland would like to have a word with you.
let them come, I honestly prefer a good single malt to a blend, Irish, Bourbon, or Kentucky whiskey.
Although, I think we also win here in America with historical celebrities... I mean, it's hard to beat quotes from Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Colt and the like
I don't know. I'm not too familiar with whisky.
lets add a few.
Tequila: Mexico (derp derp!)
Rum: dark: Jamaica/Grenada
Rum: light: Spanish Carribean
Vodka: Russia (In Stalinist Russia, you don't drink vodka, vodka drinks you!) except for Titos - go Austin!
As I said earlier, when the Americans start making decent bread, cheese and beer, then they can lecture us on chow!!
And don't get me started on root beer
I've been to quite a few countries and I haven't really found any place that makes exceptionally better bread as here, especially the UK. Though I am rather partial to scones.
We literally have laws against good cheese.
And despite this constant bickering about beer I have yet to find a type of beer brewed on your silly island that isn't made here as well.
And also:
Spoiler:
That is all.
Well, there you go then.
The Scilly Isles have a population of not much over 2,000 and the entire United States just matches their beer output variety.
Jim Beam, Southern Comfort, and the entire nation of Ireland would like to have a word with you.
let them come, I honestly prefer a good single malt to a blend, Irish, Bourbon, or Kentucky whiskey.
Although, I think we also win here in America with historical celebrities... I mean, it's hard to beat quotes from Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Colt and the like
Part 1: I genuinely prefer corn mash bourbons to single malts; it's a matter of personal taste. It's like coke and pepsi except in this case mine is cheaper than yours too :p
Part 2: I can think of more interesting historical celebrities than all of those both American and otherwise.
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/gential assault.
Shakespeare went to school with Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway and repeatedly humiliated them, made them do his maths homework and stole their lunch money.
Glorioski wrote: Shakespeare went to school with Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway and repeatedly humiliated them, made them do his maths homework and stole their lunch money.
Hemingway more like whooped the crap out of that fairy shakespeare, and wrestled a bear, whilst eating a bacon-wrapped steak all at the same time
Not totting American literature, but Mark Twain was probably the greatest writer of all time - and there is evidence that Shakespeare may not have been a single person...
ENOZONE wrote: Not totting American literature, but Mark Twain was probably the greatest writer of all time - and there is evidence that Shakespeare may not have been a single person...
Glorioski wrote: Shakespeare went to school with Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway and repeatedly humiliated them, made them do his maths homework and stole their lunch money.
Twain made Shakespeare his jailhouse . Am I doing it right?
ENOZONE wrote: Not totting American literature, but Mark Twain was probably the greatest writer of all time - and there is evidence that Shakespeare may not have been a single person...
Thats kind of a dubious "may" though.
Not really, we spent some time talking about it in my high school AP English class. There were 2-3 writers at the time who wrote almost exactly the same material and style he did. Considering how much political clout Shakespeare had at the time, it wasn't far fetched for these writers to have donned him as a moniker to escape persecution for their satirical views of the king at the time - an offense that could get your head chopped off.
I enjoy living in Canada and laughing at Americans who think they're "The Greatest Nation on Earth" they don't know what they're missing out on, this gak is thoroughly good.
Cheesecat wrote: I enjoy living in Canada and laughing at Americans who think they're "The Greatest Nation on Earth" they don't know what they're missing out on, this gak is thoroughly good.
I'm just joking, I just irks me a bit to see all these "my nation has a bigger dick than yours" -type comments, like you can somehow measure that just say you like your country and leave it that. You're not well traveled or experienced enough to know what the greatest nation is (Canada
obviously) besides every country has it's pros and cons (except Afghanistan it only has cons).
Cheesecat wrote: I enjoy living in Canada and laughing at Americans who think they're "The Greatest Nation on Earth" they don't know what they're missing out on, this gak is thoroughly good.
Canada is pretty cool. I enjoy it when work takes me up there for a week at at time.
Well, Canada actually had a shot at being the Greatest nation the Earth has ever seen.
We could have had British culture, French Cuisine, and American technology. Instead we ended up with American culture British Cuisine and French Technology.
ENOZONE wrote: Not totting American literature, but Mark Twain was probably the greatest writer of all time - and there is evidence that Shakespeare may not have been a single person...
Thats kind of a dubious "may" though.
Not really, we spent some time talking about it in my high school AP English class. There were 2-3 writers at the time who wrote almost exactly the same material and style he did. Considering how much political clout Shakespeare had at the time, it wasn't far fetched for these writers to have donned him as a moniker to escape persecution for their satirical views of the king at the time - an offense that could get your head chopped off.
Multi authorship is an even smaller fringe than anti-Stratford theories. What you are talking about has the same scholarly support as the aliens built the pyramids theory.
Good luck with that.
Cheesecat wrote: You can still eat crap and be thin so long as you're active enough to use up those calories, what's really causing obesity is a combination of inactivity and bad diets.
You can do enough to burn off the weight, but you'll still get the clogged arteries and other problems associated with high fat, high salt diets. Which is better than having that diet and sitting on the couch all day... but still a lot worse than eating right and exercising.
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ENOZONE wrote: Not totting American literature, but Mark Twain was probably the greatest writer of all time - and there is evidence that Shakespeare may not have been a single person...
Not really. There's some theories that basically run on 'we don't know that much so let's make some gak up for fun' but that's about it.
But I agree that Twain was a remarkable writer. The combination of wit and social conscience is a powerful thing. And to bring it back to the original topic, Twain is one of many great American writers. The US in general has its cultural achievements ignored, in part because everyone (Americans included) seems to love bashing the crappiest parts of American culture. But amidst the constant stream of terrible stuff there's also a steady release of great works of art, and great artists, and most of them are uniquely American artists.
Could Mark Twain have been anything but an American? What about Cormac McCarthy? Or Truman Capote?
Cheesecat wrote: You can still eat crap and be thin so long as you're active enough to use up those calories, what's really causing obesity is a combination of inactivity and bad diets.
You can do enough to burn off the weight, but you'll still get the clogged arteries and other problems associated with high fat, high salt diets. Which is better than having that diet and sitting on the couch all day... but still a lot worse than eating right and exercising.
ENOZONE wrote: Not really, we spent some time talking about it in my high school AP English class. There were 2-3 writers at the time who wrote almost exactly the same material and style he did. Considering how much political clout Shakespeare had at the time, it wasn't far fetched for these writers to have donned him as a moniker to escape persecution for their satirical views of the king at the time - an offense that could get your head chopped off.
This is a really good example of why you shouldn't just accept stuff you learned in highschool.
'Escaping persecution' just doesn't make sense. The plays weren't written, then distributed in secret. They were performed, the people involved in performing and financing the plays were known. They were in public by the sheer nature of putting on a play for the public. To think that the performers would perform the work of playwrights who were afraid to put their name to the work makes little sense. To think that the king might crack down on the performers, but have no means to discover the original author of the work... when he's got all these actors and stage hands under arrest makes absolutely none at all.
There's also the problem that Shakespeare's plays were written to support the existing monarchy. What is Richard II but a politcal attack on an old monarch, designed to shore up the present lineage?
Cheesecat wrote: I enjoy living in Canada and laughing at Americans who think they're "The Greatest Nation on Earth" they don't know what they're missing out on, this gak is thoroughly good.
ENOZONE wrote: Not really, we spent some time talking about it in my high school AP English class. There were 2-3 writers at the time who wrote almost exactly the same material and style he did. Considering how much political clout Shakespeare had at the time, it wasn't far fetched for these writers to have donned him as a moniker to escape persecution for their satirical views of the king at the time - an offense that could get your head chopped off.
This is a really good example of why you shouldn't just accept stuff you learned in highschool.
'Escaping persecution' just doesn't make sense. The plays weren't written, then distributed in secret. They were performed, the people involved in performing and financing the plays were known. They were in public by the sheer nature of putting on a play for the public. To think that the performers would perform the work of playwrights who were afraid to put their name to the work makes little sense. To think that the king might crack down on the performers, but have no means to discover the original author of the work... when he's got all these actors and stage hands under arrest makes absolutely none at all.
There's also the problem that Shakespeare's plays were written to support the existing monarchy. What is Richard II but a politcal attack on an old monarch, designed to shore up the present lineage?
Actually Richard II's character in the play has been argued to be analogous with Elizabeth the first in her last years of rule when it was released. Saying that I think the conspiracy theories regarding Shakespeare are pretty baseless and seem to be people looking for a more romantic story to put to the greatest playwright who ever lived. For one thing the only candidate which makes sense, Edward De Vere, died years before many of Shakespeare's plays were released.
Glorioski wrote: Actually Richard II's character in the play has been argued to be analogous with Elizabeth the first in her last years of rule when it was released.
Sorry, type on my part, meant Richard III. Rise of the Tudors and all that.
I wasn't aware of that regarding Richard II (I've not seen the play yet), but it makes sense given what I know of his reign. Thanks for the information.
Saying that I think the conspiracy theories regarding Shakespeare are pretty baseless and seem to be people looking for a more romantic story to put to the greatest playwright who ever lived. For one thing the only candidate which makes sense, Edward De Vere, died years before many of Shakespeare's plays were released.
Yeah, I think like a lot of things the original reason for speculation was pretty distasteful - people disbelieving that a commoner could be such a great writer, but while the classism died away the speculation never did. So now it is, as you say, a romantic story, and one that hinges on the idea that so much is unknown from that period so we can have some fun making gak up.
There is actually a lot of evidence to support that William Shakespeare of Stratford upon Avon was indeed the writer of those plays. There was a study done on it where they applied an algorithm to all his works and the works of the other supposed Shakespeares, looking at language, sentence structure etc. and it showed a very high likeliness that all his plays were written by the same person and unlikely to be written by the others. He also came from a similar background to other playwrights like Ben Jonson which would suggest there was no problem there.
Btw Richard II is a brilliant play but has rarely been filmed. The BBC did it this year though (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A89wTSJ_j8g) well worth a watch if you're interested.
It's also worth noting that it really doesn't matter who wrote Shakespeare's plays. It doesn't really affect the nature of them at all. They are what they are, no matter what kind of a person wrote them.
Cheesecat wrote: I'm just joking, I just irks me a bit to see all these "my nation has a bigger dick than yours" -type comments, like you can somehow measure that just say you like your country and leave it that. You're not well traveled or experienced enough to know what the greatest nation is (Canada
obviously) besides every country has it's pros and cons (except Afghanistan it only has cons).
You're just jealous because we utterly kick your ass in the processed food department. Admit your inferiority and things will go much more smoothly.
Cheesecat wrote: I'm just joking, I just irks me a bit to see all these "my nation has a bigger dick than yours" -type comments, like you can somehow measure that just say you like your country and leave it that. You're not well traveled or experienced enough to know what the greatest nation is (Canada
obviously) besides every country has it's pros and cons (except Afghanistan it only has cons).
You're just jealous because we utterly kick your ass in the processed food department. Admit your inferiority and things will go much more smoothly.
But, they have us beat by virtue of Maple Syrup. You can't discount that! They have a FETHING strategic reserve!
Cheesecat wrote: I'm just joking, I just irks me a bit to see all these "my nation has a bigger dick than yours" -type comments, like you can somehow measure that just say you like your country and leave it that. You're not well traveled or experienced enough to know what the greatest nation is (Canada
obviously) besides every country has it's pros and cons (except Afghanistan it only has cons).
You're just jealous because we utterly kick your ass in the processed food department. Admit your inferiority and things will go much more smoothly.
But, they have us beat by virtue of Maple Syrup. You can't discount that! They have a FETHING strategic reserve!
Ohio has you covered... Gak's like 55 bucks for a half gallon, but it's damn fine...
Also Orwell is okay, I feel many of his essays are far better than his novels, but then again they are also shorter
Cheesecat wrote: I'm just joking, I just irks me a bit to see all these "my nation has a bigger dick than yours" -type comments, like you can somehow measure that just say you like your country and leave it that. You're not well traveled or experienced enough to know what the greatest nation is (Canada
obviously) besides every country has it's pros and cons (except Afghanistan it only has cons).
You're just jealous because we utterly kick your ass in the processed food department. Admit your inferiority and things will go much more smoothly.
But, they have us beat by virtue of Maple Syrup. You can't discount that! They have a FETHING strategic reserve!
We have maple syrup too. PLus thats why we have Seal Team 27 constantly flying in stealth C17s on the border ready to deploy and recover these reserves at a moment's notice if it ever comes to that. The US will not allow a Maple Syrup Gap Mr. President!
I've read it, it is amazing, but I prefer his essays. Though the version of 1984 I read was trippy... it was in full color and in some fashion it says Big Brother is Watching on every page, and when the book is close the pages themselves spell that out...
Alfndrate wrote: I've read it, it is amazing, but I prefer his essays. Though the version of 1984 I read was trippy... it was in full color and in some fashion it says Big Brother is Watching on every page, and when the book is close the pages themselves spell that out...
I have only read one of his essays, which was about the destruction of the English language., It was actually really cool.
i read an eBook version so i didn't see the part with the pages, but it appears to be all bit of the effect.
At least there we have all of the major types of terrain: desert, beach, forest, rain forest, mountain, city. And each one is, depending on where you live only a couple hours at most away.
hub , or you 
