Don't you ever wonder about those guys from other countries when all we talk about is bushkerrykerrykerrybushbushbushcheeneycheeneykerrykerryedwardsedwardsedwardsbush? Well here we can talk about politics worldwide and learn about other countries in the world and their political leaders.

Heh. Thanks Celtic, I'm honored.

And with it's passing the last light was extinguished on the magnificant British Empire. (by the way we gave it back after 99, much to our annoyance and the fine people of Hong Kong)

India is a totally different matter with regards to the British

what a change too see this topic finally not spelled american...
i was just reading about how china leased hong kong for hundread years to great britian..isnt that awesome?

Ah yay! This thread made it in the homepage.

Sorry, this is just one of my favorite threads.

Because I am feeling lazy...

http://www.worldnews.com/

quote:

??? You think that? I think Chechnya really is not part of Russia. It's Islamic, culturally and geographically different.

Well, not culturally/religiously/geographically, of course not. They're 2560% different in such matter.

But as a country, legally, yes, they are. Why? I don't know.

quote:

Chechnya is part of Russia.

??? You think that? I think Chechnya really is not part of Russia. It's Islamic, culturally and geographically different.

Of Course there's a;ways the Russian Empire

quote:

Originally posted by CelticNewAger:
Chechnya is part of Russia.

They've been at war since 1995, its about time Russia either pulls out and admits defeat, or really goes in there and finishes the job.

quote:

Socialized nightmare? Are you suggesting that everyone in Europe lives in hovels selling bread, whilst in America everyone owns a hotel or something?

Of course I'm not suggesting that. What I am saying is the Europeans have spent so much money on social welfare programs (and the like), that they have actually hurt their workers more then they have helped. The European governments have grown so large in economic issues, that they are stopping private enterprise from reaching its fullest potential.

If we compare the European Union & the United States, I can show you what I mean;

Population
EU: 457,000,000
US: 295,700,000

Unemployment rate
EU: 9.5%
US: 5.5%

Gross Domestic Product
EU: $11,650,000,000
US: $11,750,000,000

GDP per Capita
EU: $26,900
US: $40,100

How can a nation with almost half the population be 33% richer per person, have a much lower unemployment rate, and create more products and services than the larger nation?

Free Markets. If Europe would let go of their socialized economies and embrace fully capitalism (as not even America has done), their numbers would be much higher than the US's. A perfect example of what free markets can do to a country is Hong Kong. Hong Kong went from a socialized territory of China's in 1997 to a totally free market territory in 2005.
Their unemployment is at 6.7% & their GDp per capita is $34,200, all with 7,000,000 people.

quote:

How about Russia in Chechnya?

Chechnya is part of Russia.

Socialized nightmare? Are you suggesting that everyone in Europe lives in hovels selling bread, whilst in America everyone owns a hotel or something?

Yes, there are some things that are desirable, as there are in all cultures. But much of Europe is bogged down in a socialized nightmare, and that's the last place we want to be. America must promote an ownership society, where everyon has a stake in the future. As for education, a good fix for it would be to introduce vouchers for private schools. All the tax money that people give to the government that goes towards public education can be returned in the form of vouchers that families can use to send their children to private schools. That way, parents can send their children to smaller schools that pay more attention to the individual student. Also, it would eliminate the controversies of the public school curriculum. Those who want to send their children to a religious school can, and those who want to send their children to a secular school can, etc. Its win win.

The European education is known to be better than the American education. I don't think that the US wants to model itself after any European country 100%. However, I do think it would be worth while for the US to model European programs that are more sucessful than American programs, like education. Eurpoean countries should do the same.

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
So, it's better to impose our will on the rest of the world using our might? What next? Will we drop the bomb on France simply because they have the impudence to back out of our "noble" little coalition? Europe at least isn't running around invading countries for no particular reason.

Europe isn't running around invading countries for no reason? Then why is France in the Ivory Coast? How about Russia in Chechnya?

The reason that the European countries didn't feel the need to liberate millions of Iraqis was because they were lining their pockets with money from the UN Oil for Food Program. Over 2000 European countries recieved over $25 billion dollars in illegal oil money from Saddam himself.

The Euros may not have been fighting a physical war, but they did wage an economic one.

Oil For Food Facts

quote:

Ha! The last thing we want to be is like the Europeans! Why would we want to model ourselves after the continent that fell further and faster than any in history?

Oh **** you, just **** you! You clearly are entirley ignorant of European Hisory. If they're soo bad why is the Euro stronger than the dollar?

quote:

Ha! The last thing we want to be is like the Europeans! Why would we want to model ourselves after the continent that fell further and faster than any in history?

So, it's better to impose our will on the rest of the world using our might? What next? Will we drop the bomb on France simply because they have the impudence to back out of our "noble" little coalition? Europe at least isn't running around invading countries for no particular reason.

quote:

Originally posted by riskbreaker86:
If the USA doesn't start to embrace its own ideas of Liberalism and move into a multilateral international community then we will see the uni-polar phenomena eroded and eroded until the whole Empire collapses upon itself. If the US doesn't Embrace other nations politics, cultures, heritage and history (there are older buildings here than the USA itself) then a new generation of Americans will grow up just as arrogant as a large majority of the current one.

Ha! The last thing we want to be is like the Europeans! Why would we want to model ourselves after the continent that fell further and faster than any in history?

If the USA doesn't start to embrace its own ideas of Liberalism and move into a multilateral international community then we will see the uni-polar phenomena eroded and eroded until the whole Empire collapses upon itself. If the US doesn't Embrace other nations politics, cultures, heritage and history (there are older buildings here than the USA itself) then a new generation of Americans will grow up just as arrogant as a large majority of the current one.

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
Back on topic, I don't pay much attention to politics here in the US nor in the rest of the world. Politics is for politicians and teens who don't have anything else to do.

I'm going to have to disagree with you, clpol, teens should be aware of what's going on politically, so that when we're 18, we will have the background information of what we will be voting on. Teenagers are the future of the US, and other parts of the world. If we are not active in what's going on politically, then what are we going to do when we are an adult? what are we going to expect from our society?
It's very important to be involve with our polititions(sp?) for they are dealing with our future.

You can still make a different no matter how young you are, because it will reflect on you when you are older.
Peace

This isn't about Realpolitik...

Too bad 'cause I like discussing hundred year old political philosphies.

Problems...those are problems that have been around since civilization itself began, jamaica. What makes you think the 21st century is going to be any different? Now, you'll of course take this to mean that I don't care. Wrong, as usual. I do care, but I'm trying to be realistic about these things. Sure, we can try to get rid of poverty. Will it happen? Of course not. Humans are too greedy. No more terrorism? Again, wishful thinking at best. There will always be the unsatisfied elements. The earth never was and never will be a utopia.

Back on topic, I don't pay much attention to politics here in the US nor in the rest of the world. Politics is for politicians and teens who don't have anything else to do.