military expenditures

[xul]

I didn't say that. I said that we were an economic superpower.

Sorry, I should express it as "American may laugh at the idea of....."

But it seems like you thought a superpower is somewhat volunteer peacekeeper of the world or some noble things. I think you were wrong. Actually a superpower is some sort of dictator ruling the world. It projects power just because it uses the projection as a resort to promote its own interests. I don't mean superpowers always do bad things. Just like dictators, they also do good things if their interests are consistent with others, but if anyone dare to get in their way, he can not expect any mercy from them.

[Smallc]

I think you're still missing my point. I was only talking in terms of money, and not military might.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think you're still missing my point. I was only talking in terms of money, and not military might.

The case has not been made for Canada being an economic "superpower"....however, it is an emerging energy sector "superpower". Canada's GDP is lower than that of Mexico, Spain, or South Korea....so are these even larger "superpowers" than Canada?

[Smallc]

Canada's GDP is lower than that of Mexico, Spain, or South Korea....so are these even larger "superpowers" than Canada?

That depends on whether you're looking at ppp or nominal. Nominal seems to be the more widely used measurement. And yes, South Korea and Spain are. Mexico is very poor for the size of it's population, so I'm not sure I'd count them as such.

Edited February 27, 2010 by Smallc

[bush_cheney2004]

That depends on whether you're looking at ppp or nominal. Nominal seems to be the more widely used measurement. And yes, South Korea and Spain are. Mexico is very poor for the size of it's population, so I'm not sure I'd count them as such.

OK...we'll play it your way, and it gets even more skewed to the absurd for "superpower" status:

Per capita rankings:

1 Luxembourg 111,240

2 Norway 94,353

3 Switzerland 64,015

4 Ireland 63,185

5 Denmark 62,332

6 Iceland 52,557

7 Netherlands 52,321

8 Sweden 52,057

9 Finland 51,062

10 Austria 49,900

11 Australia 47,498

12 United States 46,716

13 Belgium 46,486

14 France 45,981

15 Germany 44,471

16 United Kingdom 43,088

17 Canada 42,030

18 Japan 38,443

19 Italy 38,309

20 Singapore 37,597

21 Spain 35,204

22 Greece 31,749

Edited February 27, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[Smallc]

Whether you are powerful economically is determined by a combination of per capita and total GDP. A wealthy country with a relatively wealthy population has a great deal of buying power. A wealthy country with a poor population doesn't necessarily. Similarly, a country with a small wealthy population doesn't have that much buying power. The only things that may make Canada less of an economic superpower is its relatively small population.

Now, go play your games with someone else. I don't feel like it today.

Edited February 27, 2010 by Smallc

[bush_cheney2004]

..... The only things that may make Canada less of an economic superpower is its relatively small population.

Ergo...Canada is not an economic "superpower".

[Smallc]

Oh, and just because I say we're an economic superpower doesn't mean that we necessarily are. It's like when people say the US is the best country in the world. It doesn't necessarily hold any truth.

[Machjo]

Just transfer at least some military responsibilities to the private sector. For example, protection for commercial vessels at sea should not be funded by the government. Make it user pay, rent it out to those companies that want protection.

[bush_cheney2004]

Oh, and just because I say we're an economic superpower doesn't mean that we necessarily are. It's like when people say the US is the best country in the world. It doesn't necessarily hold any truth.

No...it mostly means that when you say Canada is a "money" superpower, you are easily proven wrong (and don't like it).

Own the Podium!

Edited February 27, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[Smallc]

Own the Podium!

We've owned the top of it so far.

Edited February 27, 2010 by Smallc

[bush_cheney2004]

We owned the top of it.

No doubt a Podium SUPERPOWER! LOL!

[Machjo]

Who cares about owning the podium. That's just a bunch of expensive nationalistic chest-beating paid for by our tax dollars.

[Smallc]

Who cares about owning the podium. That's just a bunch of expensive nationalistic chest-beating paid for by our tax dollars.

And? Some of are nationalists of patriots. BTW, up to 12 golds now. 1 more to tie an olympic record.

[Machjo]

And? Some of are nationalists of patriots. BTW, up to 12 golds now. 1 more to tie an olympic record.

And how will all of that spending and those gold medals change people's daily lives? The Olympics are not an essential service and ought to be a private-sector concern.

I'm certainly happy for the athletes, regardless of nationality, who won those medals. However, it's still not a necessity and so should get no public funding. And besides, how does an overweight binge-drinking and chain-smoking couch potato share in the national glory of a gold medal? As far as I'm concerned, that gold medal was earned the the athlete in question and not his country.

[Machjo]

And again, let's not confuse nationalism with patriotism. I love my country, but government spending at the Olympics is pure nationalistic chest-beating with no other purpose.

[Smallc]

And again, let's not confuse nationalism with patriotism.

Agreed, lets not. There's nothing wrong with loving a country...or the accomplishments of its people.

[Machjo]

Agreed, lets not. There's nothing wrong with loving a country...or the accomplishments of its people.

And I'm very happy for the golds all the players have won. However, I still don't think government needs to be in the picture. Privatize the Olympics, let the private sector take it over, and if it means a small budget or less frequent Olympics or less elaborate Olympics, so be it. I'll sill be happy for all the athletic successes. Bt I don't see how being happy for an athlete winning gold has anything to do with my love for my country. Whether any Canadian wins gold or not will not increase or diminish my love for my country either way. My love for my country is unconditional and not attached to how many gold medals we win. Even if we had not won a single gold medal, that would not have diminished my love for my country in the least.

[Smallc]

There is also a certain pride involved with patriotism. When your country and its people succeed, you can be proud of it and them. That isn't necessarily nationalism. Anyway, there's a thread for this argument, and I have no interest in the argument of the thread it's in.

[Bonam]

Canada is not a superpower of any sort, economic or otherwise, nor does it need to be or want to be. It is a nice place to live, let's leave it at that.

[Smallc]

Canada is not a superpower of any sort, economic or otherwise, nor does it need to be or want to be. It is a nice place to live, let's leave it at that.

I'm glad that you can speak for the entire nation....phew, no pressure on the rest of us anymore.

[Bonam]

I'm glad that you can speak for the entire nation....phew, no pressure on the rest of us anymore.

Show me where at any time in recent history Canada's leaders have aspired to "superpower status" if you think I'm wrong.

[Smallc]

I didn't say we aspired to anything. We are powerful in both economic and energy terms, whether we want to be or not.

[Bonam]

I didn't say we aspired to anything. We are powerful in both economic and energy terms, whether we want to be or not.

"Powerful" is subjective, but sure. But a superpower? Please look up the definition of what a superpower is. Seriously dude.

[Smallc]

The definition of superpower doesn't do me any good here, since it is an all encompassing term, and I was never implying we were powerful in that sense (though we do have the ability to project some power and influence, it isn't that much). Because of the size of our economy and energy sector, we do have the ability to project influence in those areas. Fine, I'll settle for being an economic great power .