Do you rate America as a superpower?
 

Personally I dont.

They had the shit kicked out of them in Somali, Vietnam, Korea and quite a few other countries.

"Got the kit dont dont what to do with it" is a known saying in most armies.

I have never lost a fight with a yank.

What is your view.

without Bush............Yes

Of course not. The country that still pushes the most wealth around, and has more weapons than the other countries put together is just an incidental because they've become too pussified to liquidate other parts of the planet.

I love how Billionsssssss were spenty on War which could have been used for a unified Health care for evryone....

As of now, yes.

The Usa are still a super power, They have the means to anihalate any country they want, and i agree with what GrouchyAdmin says, If the USA really wanted to nuke Iraq or some other country who is going to stop them

I cry sometimes for America. The fact you dont have free health care or a free education system.

When almost every dime you make in this world comes from the US, they will be considered a superpower.

What isn't free about our education system?

If you had a brain you would get paid in Euros.

You have to pay for the fees to go to University

You are the one saying the US isn't a superpower yet making your living off of the US.

Yes you do. K-12 is free though. If you go to a state school, it's fairly cheap, and there are a shitload of government grants and loans.

they might be a _military_ superpower... but I don't think a country's power should only be measured according to it's military resources/budget... thoughts?

LoL @ the term "free healthcare" being thrown around. Free.... right.....

Depends how you rate a superpower BP...

If it's based on counting missiles - sure, the US is a superpower. They have more WMD than any country.

If it's based on an vibrant/powerful economy... the US no longer has that and has little prospect in the medium term on an economic front. It's more a debt front supported by foreign loans.

If it's based on "international influence", - sure, to a degree, tho other nations have more credibility in this area. The US has failed miserably in international diplomacy for many decades.

If it's based on 'standard of living' - this varies depending what area you look at. "Real value" in personal earnings are not that high and minimum wage levels are a joke for any western nation. Personal "benefits" are minimum in return for taxation - eg. healthcare is not part of this. But... despite that and the personal debt carried, - suppose the standard of living is generally OK.

It's hard to value the label "superpower" - only my :2 cents:, but does not appear to be either one or the other. If the economy had something to offer, both internally in the form of jobs and externally in the form of having something to offer the world - that could make a difference. Internationally and on a diplomatic side, that depends on the competence of those who may lead the country, and, again, could make a difference. There is a long way to go in recovering that status - and would probably take decades.

I get paid in Euros, about 2m each month.

Wow! It is weird to see a person want to prove how dumb they are but good for you to be so open about it.

I'm sure you do. I'm also sure it's off all non-US traffic. And that my penis is 13 inches.

which country is a superpower in your opinion ?

Cummon PK :winkwink: I sure has hell have never depended on the US to earn a living and seriously would not appreciate doing work to earn half (or near about) the funds for doing that work - at least at this time.

That situation may change - but it depends on what the market is worth in real terms.

Your health care system is free? Where is that at, I'd like to live in a country with free health care that doesn't come from insanly high taxes. Let me in on your secret.

Whatever your political or ethical beliefs are toward the US, they have more people who buy porn than any other country on the planet. They simply spend more on porn. I could careless in getting into a debate on our politics, military, whatever, just think it's ignorant when people say that the US doesn't matter when they are peddling porn.

Countries with feeling.

The term "free" is just a term - everything has a cost.

The difference is in what a government takes in tax revenue and them disperses that revenue back to it's taxpayers.

Including healthcare and other benefits does not generally mean "insanely high taxes". Most western countries, give or take a few, have taxation much the same as the US - and ALL provide "free" healthcare.

Hell.. we are currently based in a country which is ranked the same as the US annually on healthcare quality and offers "free" healthcare. The irony is personal taxation is almost non-existant and numbers of US folks (and others) come here for major operations to avoid the high costs within the US.

It really depends on what degree any government wants to wisely or otherwise spend their taxation revenue.

There already is universal health care in the US --for illegal aliens and welfare mothers.

:mad:

I realize nothing is free, hence the sarcasm. But to be honest, I don't have an issue with the health care I have received in my life. The only times that I have had any kind of issues with my health care is when I got "free" health care because my Dad was in the Air Force. That was all picked up the Federal Governement and I've never been treated so bad. But, I got a job that has benefits that I pay for, not that much by the way, and everything has been fine. If you ask me, paying for it gets you better shit.

Granted, I'm single and not paying insurance on a whole family, but still. At the most I was spending $150 a month, which with how much I was making, was affordable. For people that can't afford that, it should be motivation to do better, not a reason to give up. Too many lazy pieces of shit in this country that would rather bitch about the Federal Government not GIVING them enough than to just make their own lives better. It's sad.

Judging by the millions of people who break in to the US every year, I would say we are still pretty desireable.

:)

At least be accurate with your claims if you are going to dismiss the US so casually.

Casualties
Vietnam - 800,000 kia
US - 58,000 kia

Vietnam - 600,000 wia
US - 153,000 wia

LBJ would not let the Generals do what they do. He was afraid that if he invaded Hanoi,it would escalate the cold war with the soviets.


North Korea:
215,000 kia,
303,000 wia,

China
114,000 kia
380,000 wia

United States:
36,516 kia
92,134 wia

Somalia?
That was a weekend event. Not a war.

U.S.
19 kia
73 wia

Somalia
At least 500 kia(U.S. est. 1,000-1,500)
3,000-4,000 wia
Militia
Est. 700 kia
Est. 1,000 wia

No, I consider Guam a superpower though.

America is still a superpower

Countries don't have feelings. They are imaginary lines that seperate groups of people.

I'm Canadian... but does dog count ???

.

The balance is changing, but sure don't doubt this PK. This was a major part of the "engine" which started the "commercial net" and accessibility in the US played a prime role.

The EU always was an "earner" and suspect more commercial activity from there. Tho it may take some time yet, the next major market will probably be Asian countries (despite localized obstacles and where currency is undervalued by up to 25%) as they develop further and can see them superceding all "western counties" at a future time. Stuff some spare money into peoples hands and they will spend :)

name some countries with feeling . I'm really interested :)

:winkwink: This is the same everywhere, whether it's healthcare or government subsidies to the unemployed etc. Sure there always will be an element of genuine losers who rely on leeching off government coffers, tho got to be a sad existence. Hopefully with the majority of others, they have contributed in whatever taxation and do need support.

This also seems to be the same general complaint about any immigrant to a country - whether legal or otherwise.

Immigrants are an odd bunch. What I mean is i've met and worked with both legal, and illegal immigrants and it's been a mixed bag. I've seen illegals work their asses off, probably worked harder than anyone I've ever seen and didn't complain once. Same with legal immigrants. On the other hand, I've seen some from both camps that were the laziest pieces of shit I have ever seen.

So ya, I can see the corelation, but I think when it comes down to it, there is the overwhelming nature of human thought that says why work when you can get it for free? Obviously, people would rather live comfortably without having to work for it, it's the American dream right? The problem lies in the people who have 0% chance of getting that and continue to try.

Save your tears. The people of this country have only themselves to blame for their mess. People usually get the type of government they deserve.

More long winded babble from Webby...who has multiple nicks...this is but one of them. BTW...he is also the biggest liar on this board.

In addition the USA is the worlds only super power.

What a ridiculous statement. Ya, tell that to the jews living in Germany and Poland during Hitler's stint as leader of their government. Or, to bring it into some newer times, how about the people that were living under Saddam Hussein. Ya, they probably deserved it too.

Only my :2 cents: and may not be correct. People are people whether immigrants, Chinamen with blue faces or tribal leaders in Africa. It's really down to the individual and possibly influenced by the way they were reared and "needed" to do during that time etc.

You prob know some very poor people and very rich and both work their asses off for whatever earnings/reason. There are other very poor people and very rich who are totally useless to anyone and often incapable of working a day without whining about it :winkwink:

I also identified an element who can be described as leeches - they can be rich or poor, but often not inclined to work and will befriend and leech off anyone they can. They often don't leech off governments, but make a career of leeching off their alleged friends.

Hell.. got one particular idiot who elected to leech off me for a while tho never got far. He's typical of the breed - pointless ego, unemployable and has now escalated to fraud in the hope of "earning" and prob due in a jail cell within the year.

People come in all shapes and sizes, with a work ethic or otherwise - ya just need to be careful in selecting those you mix with :)

Oh God - they let Pathfinder out of the asylum again. What the hell is wrong with the security there?? *lol*

As usual... the predictable lying from a wannabee officer in the military. Sorry General, you never did make the grade and never will :thumbsup

Your babble really verges on double speak...and is boring...boring...boring.

I am out of here as I have to go on patrol in a few minutes.

ask this question again in about 10 years...by the way, hope you're brushing up on your verbal mandarin