NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you think?

Singapore.

the netherlands

Switzerland

Norway.

But I like where I live, too.

I don't know anything other than America, so it would be ignorant of me to vote otherwise.

I don't know anything other than America, so it would be ignorant of me to vote otherwise.

No, it would then be ignorant to vote at all.

Thailand. It's one of the few countries (maybe the only country) where the Communist Party is still illegal.

No, it would then be ignorant to vote at all.
Good point. ;)

-1 from America, because I should not have voted.

I can't vote, since I don't know all countries and thus can't make an informed decision. I highly doubt though that it's the US :p

Officially Norway is the best country - although that is still in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

Thailand. It's one of the few countries (maybe the only country) where the Communist Party is still illegal.

Yeah, nothing makes a country as great as outlawing political freedoms. :rolleyes:

How do you define Best Country?

Especially how do you value the importance..Lifestyle? Real Wage & cost of Living? Freedoms? Market size? Economy? Military? Freedoms? Countries Happiness?

Imo. I'll go for Australia, for having most, and being balanced..

Yeah, nothing makes a country as great as outlawing political freedoms. :rolleyes:

And my g.f. lives there, too. ;)

Canada An ex-British colony, but can't seem to act independently of the USA.

France Shit hole, culturally pretentious with no evidence to back up their self-proclaimed superiority. Need I say more?

Germany Not bad, but done bad stuff in the past.
America Religiocratic Right-Wing War mongering.
Britain The most widely spoken language, the best literature, parliamentary democracy, industrial revolution, best comedy etc.
Ireland Terrorist supporting cowards who are trying to take over NI without cause.
Spain Poor man's Italy.
Russia Cold, corrupt and neo-nazism is taking off.
Japan Nice place, but not my cup of tea.

That's like voting for the smallest of evils... or who has the longest Light Sabre.

It depends on how you define best. If it's in terms of cleanliness in politics, it'd be one of the Scandinavian countries- corruption is non-existant there. If it's in terms of social freedom, probably Holland. If it's in terms of cleanliness, Singapore. In terms of economic freedom...I don't know.

And my g.f. lives there, too. ;)

Oh, well, that's a better reason! :)

(Must... not... make... allusion... to... Thai... sex industry... ;) )

Thailand. It's one of the few countries (maybe the only country) where the Communist Party is still illegal.

Malaysia as well. Well, both countries have Monarchs. Plus it would never work in our society. Look where communism brought Vietnam.

If it's in terms of cleanliness, Singapore. In terms of economic freedom...I don't know.

I think Singapore recently won best economic freedom as well.

Malaysia as well. Well, both countries have Monarchs. Plus it would never work in our society. Look where communism brought Vietnam.

Malaysia, too? :p

Finland.

It's a top notch on the lists of education and competitivity and Nokia comes from here too!
There're no bums on the streets because of the world's best social security system, refugees don't want to come here because of the stories about our racicism (most of them are true :D ). There're also extremely few stray animals because the harsh weather kills them (in the winter at least). The nature is also the most beautiful I've ever seen (no too many people ruining the scene).
Could there ever be a better country?

We don't preface Britain with Great without very good reason ;)

refugees don't want to come here because of the stories about our racicism (most of them are true :D ).

Being undesirable is good?

We don't preface Britain with Great without very good reason ;)
That's kind of arrogant, though. I mean, imagine... What if we called it, "The Great United States of America"?

Oh man. That'd really piss you guys off.

Being undesirable is good?
Yep! Without that, there would be all kinds of social climbers trying to get a part of our social security.

The United States of America

Yep! Without that, there would be all kinds of social climbers trying to get a part of our social security.

Sure. Whatever lulls your xenophobia. :rolleyes:

That's kind of arrogant, though. I mean, imagine... What if we called it, "The Great United States of America"?

Oh man. That'd really piss you guys off.

When a country comes to dominate over 500 million people, and the sun never sets on this Empire then it can begin to think of calling itself Great. When it produces the finest literature, leads the Industrial revolution and the Enlightenment, has the fairest political system and shakes off the shackles of Religion then it can afford to call itself Great. That is why it is called Great Britain.

Finland.

It's a top notch on the lists of education and competitivity and Nokia comes from here too!
There're no bums on the streets because of the world's best social security system, refugees don't want to come here because of the stories about our racicism (most of them are true :D ). There're also extremely few stray animals because the harsh weather kills them (in the winter at least). The nature is also the most beautiful I've ever seen (no too many people ruining the scene).
Could there ever be a better country?

So you don't have bums on the streets... but i bet you have a LOT of bums sitting on their couches, eating fish sticks and watching TV while the principled people in your country work to pay their way. Welfare has its downside too.

And what's wonderful about furry, cute animals FREEZING to death? yuck!

So you don't have bums on the streets... but i bet you have a LOT of bums sitting on their couches, eating fish sticks and watching TV while the principled people in your country work to pay their way. Welfare has its downside too.

And what's wonderful about furry, cute animals FREEZING to death? yuck!
Well, I think the society is going to get really harsh on those bums in a couple of years (I'm waiting for it with great pleasure :D ). The signs are clear.

Only those animals that DON'T belong to the nature (cats, hamsters and so on) will freeze to death. All those beautiful beasts (wolves, lynx's, wolverines) are doing just fine. This's a harsh country that kills the weak ones. Perhaps that's the reason to the great success.

Malaysia, too? :p

Yep. Since 1961 after communist insurgency. Communism was outlawed.. And they haven't bothered to change it since.

But there's also alot of other factors why communism won't work. Especially most malays here are Muslim. Communism is atheism. Then there's the monarchs, and sharing of wealth, which if we did that, everybody would live in a shanty hut.

Ireland Terrorist supporting cowards who are trying to take over NI without cause.
hope ireland wins the poll so i can stick that comment up ur hole!

definitely one of the scandinavian/northern european countries. ive been to holland and finland, and they are brilliant places.

I'm Belgian, so it would be arrogant to say Belgium - but I'm too proud to vote for our neighbours to the north, the Netherlands :p And our other neighbours, France and Germany - I like them a bit, but I don't think of either of them that they're the best nations in the world - and Luxemburg is nice, but just too small ;)

Nah, I think Spain is the nicest nation - nice weather, (mostly) nice people, relaxed culture (sometimes even a bit too relaxed :p), and I like how they have gone from one of the poorest countries in Europe to a rich and (kind of) powerful nation. Also, I find them much less annoying in international politics than the U.S.A., France, Germany, Italy or Britain (this is purely personal, don't get mad at me!) - I like the Italian language better than the Spanish, though.

From the list, France or Ireland, but really, i've no idea.

The greatest countries at the moment in my opinion include:

France: best health service in the world according to the UN, has some of the strongest trade unions and communist organisations in Europe, also the most anti American country in Europe

Norway and Sweden - the highest two countries on the human development index, they still have a strong welfare state and a high degree of public control over some aspects of the economy

Cuba - best healthcare and education in Latin America, the only country that claims to be working towards a communist society

Venezuala - has a elected a radical socialist as their president (Hugo Chavez) who has for the first time attempted to ensure that the economcy benefits all people, has also strongly resisted the US imperialists and have established close relations with Cuba

The greatest countries at the moment in my opinion include:

France: best health service in the world according to the UN, has some of the strongest trade unions and communist organisations in Europe, also the most anti American country in Europe

Norway and Sweden - the highest two countries on the human development index, they still have a strong welfare state and a high degree of public control over some aspects of the economy

Cuba - best healthcare and education in Latin America, the only country that claims to be working towards a communist society

Venezuala - has a elected a radical socialist as their president (Hugo Chavez) who has for the first time attempted to ensure that the economcy benefits all people, has also strongly resisted the US imperialists and have established close relations with Cuba

You're such a hypocrite. You always whine about "U.S. imperialism," but you never whine about Cuban imperialism (Nicaragua, Angola, etc.). :rolleyes:

i said other because a) i can't pick one and b) i like the ancient sites, like greece and italy and all those places, now they are the best!!!

That's kind of arrogant, though. I mean, imagine... What if we called it, "The Great United States of America"?

Oh man. That'd really piss you guys off.

I was stating my opinion on the best country in the world with a joke Plutophobia, thank you for entirely missing that :rolleyes:

Other. Brazil.

You can argue all you want about the best economic conditions, the social welfare provided, the best education etc. etc.

But we have the best beaches, babes and bikinis.

You're such a hypocrite. You always whine about "U.S. imperialism," but you never whine about Cuban imperialism (Nicaragua, Angola, etc.). :rolleyes:

That really is an extremely funny thing to say since in the two cases you have mentioned it was Cuba that was defending legitimate governments from US imperialist aggression. In the case of Angola the MPLA governmenet which had support among the majority of the popoulation were being attacked by fascist thugs and mass murderers who were backed by Apartheid South Africa and the USA. Cuba intervened to defend the people of Angola from these terrorists and it is also likely that Cuba's involvement also was one of the main factors contributing to the establishment of democracy in South Africa. In the case of Nicaragua Cuba gave support to the democratic Sandinista government which was clearly supported by the vast majority of the Nicaraguan people which was confirmed in free and fair elections. The US imperialists at that time were illegally involved in helping the Contra terrorists in their brutal war of aggression against the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people.

Oh. The last one of these polls I did had Oman on! That was a real surprise for me. I vote for Oman again because it's my faveroute country. So it's other

I'd have to go with the USA, but only because I live and work there. That excluded, I don't know. Maybe Australia or Japan.

That really is an extremely funny thing to say since in the two cases you have mentioned it was Cuba that was defending legitimate governments from US imperialist aggression. In the case of Angola the MPLA governmenet which had support among the majority of the popoulation were being attacked by fascist thugs and mass murderers who were backed by Apartheid South Africa and the USA. Cuba intervened to defend the people of Angola from these terrorists and it is also likely that Cuba's involvement also was one of the main factors contributing to the establishment of democracy in South Africa. In the case of Nicaragua Cuba gave support to the democratic Sandinista which was clearly supported by the vast majority of the Nicaraguan people which was confirmed in free and fair elections. The US imperialists at that time were illegally involved in helping the Contra terrorists in their brutal war of aggression against the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people.

The MPLA were not supported by the majority of the population- hence, the reason, they never held elections. They came to power by the most brutal means: cutting off womens' breasts, cutting people in half lengthway in saw mills, decapitating people, ripping fetuses out of pregnant women. The Sandinistas weren't much better. In their first year of power alone, more than 150,000 Nicaraguans fled the country. The Sandinistas killed more people in their first year than Pinochet killed in his 17 years in power. The Sandinistas did not hold "free and fair" elections (if they were so free and fair, why did all the opposition political parties boycott them)? Read the February 26, 1980 Congressional Record. It describes in very graphic detail what the Sandinistas did to "Somocistas," which was a term they used broadly to describe anyone who opposed them.

And what I find extremely funny is how communists label anyone who opposes them "fascist." It's also funny how it's okay for communists to kill people, but when anticommunists kill people, they go absolutely apeshit.

Ireland (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4020523.stm)

The MPLA were not supported by the majority of the population- hence, the reason, they never held elections. They came to power by the most brutal means: cutting off womens' breasts, cutting people in half lengthway in saw mills, decapitating people, ripping fetuses out of pregnant women.

The MPLA did generally work in the interests of the population and had a far higher degree of support than the Apartheid backed fascists. They also did hold free elections in 1992 when the other groups were prepared to end the war. There may have been extreme cases where the MPLA had been involved in some abuses which is obviously not acceptable but is likely to take place in a civil war. The other groups (the FNLA and UNITA) however were far more brutal and it was they who were mainly responsible for the sort of atrocities you have cited.

The Sandinistas weren't much better. In their first year of power alone, more than 150,000 Nicaraguans fled the country. The Sandinistas killed more people in their first year than Pinochet killed in his 17 years in power. The Sandinistas did not hold "free and fair" elections (if they were so free and fair, why did all the opposition political parties boycott them)? Read the February 26, 1980 Congressional Record. It describes in very graphic detail what the Sandinistas did to "Somocistas," which was a term they used broadly to describe anyone who opposed them.

The Sandinista revolution overthrew the brutal Samoza dictatorship and it was their rule that established democracy and the respect for human rights in Nicaragua. Although there may have been one or two isolated cases of abuses the Sandinistas were involved in, this was inevitable when the country was facing a sustained facsist attack on their democratic system, and the USA has committed far worse violations in Iraq. Part of the Sandinistas programme was the abolition of the death penalty, torture and political assasination and this was generally implemented after the revolution.

They did hold free and fair elections throughout their time in power and this was confirmed by international observers. From Wikipedia:

In contrast to the Cuban revolution, the Sandinista government practised political pluralism throughout its time in power. A broad range of new political parties emerged that had not been allowed under Somoza. Following promulgation of a new constitution, Nicaragua held national elections in 1984. Daniel Ortega and Sergio Ramírez were elected president and vice president, and the FSLN won 61 out of 90 seats in the new National Assembly, having taken 63 per cent of the vote on a turnout of 74%. Independent electoral observers from around the world, including the UN, stated that the elections had been free and fair. However the U.S. refused to recognize them, alleging that the opposition had been marginalized in the media and elsewhere by the government; President Reagan denounced the elections as a sham.

The MPLA did generally work in the interests of the population and had a far higher degree of support than the Apartheid backed fascists. They also did hold free elections in 1992 when the other groups were prepared to end the war. There may have been extreme cases where the MPLA had been involved in some abuses which is obviously not acceptable but is likely to take place in a civil war. The other groups (the FNLA and UNITA) however were far more brutal and it was they who were mainly responsible for the sort of atrocities you have cited.

See, there you go again, calling anyone who's non-communist "fascist."


The Sandinista revolution overthrew the brutal Samoza dictatorship and it was their rule that established democracy and the respect for human rights in Nicaragua. Although there may have been one or two isolated cases of abuses the Sandinistas were involved in this was inevitable when the country was facing a sustained facsist attack on their democratic system and the USA has committed far worse violations in Iraq. Part of the Sandinistas programme was the abolition of the death penalty, torture and political assination and this was implemented after the revolution.

They did hold free and fair elections throughout their time in power and this was confirmed by international observers. From Wikipedia:

'One or two' isolated cases? Try several thousand cases. In Iraq, has the U.S. cut off mens' genitals and stuffed them in their mouths? Cut open pregnant women and pulled the fetuses out? Poured gasoline on people and burned them alive? Gouged out peoples' eyeballs? Shot two-year-olds and four-year-olds? Tied people down on tables and cut out their hearts (while they were still alive)? Decapitated people? But then again, I guess it's okay, because they were leftists. Right?

That same Wikipedia article you quoted also mentions human rights abuses committed by the Sandinistas. Even so, Wikipedia has no credibility at all to begin with.

I'm going with the USA. I've been to other countries and I think Japan and Australia are awesome. I like the UK and Canada too.

No, it would then be ignorant to vote at all.

You don't have to go to another country to know yours is better. I think pride in your country is a good thing. Most people tend to favor their home sports teams, so why on earth would they be expected not to favor their own country, just because they've never been to another one?

Hook 'em horns!

See, there you go again, calling anyone who's non-communist "fascist."

I don't call every non-communist a facsits but it is a fact that UNITA and the FNLA were fascists which is why they received support from fascist South Africa.

'One or two' isolated cases? Try several thousand cases. In Iraq, has the U.S. cut off mens' genitals and stuffed them in their mouths? Cut open pregnant women and pulled the fetuses out? Poured gasoline on people and burned them alive? Gouged out peoples' eyeballs? Shot two-year-olds and four-year-olds? Tied people down on tables and cut out their hearts (while they were still alive)? Decapitated people? But then again, I guess it's okay, because they were leftists. Right?

That same Wikipedia article you quoted also mentions human rights abuses committed by the Sandinistas. Even so, Wikipedia has no credibility at all to begin with.

I would like to see valid evidence of all these allegations if you are making them against the Sandinistas who generally had a high degree of respect for democracy and human rights despite the Contra's war of aggression against the people of Nicaragua. It is in fact the Contras who committed most of the atrocities against innocent civilians like the ones you have decribed. From Wikipedia:

In 1982, under pressure from Congress, the U.S. State Department declared Contra activities terrorism. The Congressional intelligence committee confirmed reports of Contra atrocities such as rape, torture, summary executions, and indiscriminate killings.

I don't call every non-communist a facsits but it is a fact that UNITA and the FNLA were fascists which is why they received support from fascist South Africa.

It sure as hell seems like you do. South Africa didn't support them because they were fascist (even though S.A. was itself fascist or so close as to make no difference), but because they were defending their national interests. They had enough hostile neighbors, and they certainly didn't want one that bordered them (remember, Namibia was part of S.A. at the time.


I would like to see valid evidence of all these allegations if you are making them against the Sandinistas who generally had a high degree of respect for democracy and human rights despite the Contra's war of aggression against the people of Nicaragua. It is in fact the Contras who committed most of the atrocities against innocent civilians like the ones you have decribed.

I already gave you a source. Look it up. And the funny thing is, the atrocities I described took place before there even were contras.

From Wikipedia:

I never said the Contras didn't do such things, did I? They're just as bad, if not worse, than the Sandinistas. But that doesn't make the Sandinistas good.

You don't have to go to another country to know yours is better. I think pride in your country is a good thing. Most people tend to favor their home sports teams, so why on earth would they be expected not to favor their own country, just because they've never been to another one?

Now that's ignorance!

This poll is stupid for the easy reason that Australia and New Zealand were forgotten!

This poll is stupid for the easy reason that Australia and New Zealand were forgotten!

Agreed.

the best country is one like this (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=408963)

Zimbabwe all the way. The climate is good, and they just had fair elections. I could be like a regular Cecil Rhodes in there. Ahh.

Now that's ignorance!

It's self esteem, on a bigger scale. If you want me to debate the politics behind it, well I don't feel like it. My opinion's more poignantly expressed in the latter pages of "Why does the world hate Americans" or some such.

Australia. Yay! Not to say we don't have our own stupid politicians/laws/ideas, etc. We do, but I still like it here.

Ireland Terrorist supporting cowards who are trying to take over NI without cause.
That shows just how little you know about the situation of Ireland!
Take over?? wtf?

america i guess

why do i feel like this poll is roughly equivalent to the 'where do you live'-poll?

why do i feel like this poll is roughly equivalent to the 'where do you live'-poll?

Lol, good point. :p

Canada An ex-British colony, but can't seem to act independently of the USA.

France Shit hole, culturally pretentious with no evidence to back up their self-proclaimed superiority. Need I say more?

Germany Not bad, but done bad stuff in the past.
America Religiocratic Right-Wing War mongering.
Britain The most widely spoken language, the best literature, parliamentary democracy, industrial revolution, best comedy etc.
Ireland Terrorist supporting cowards who are trying to take over NI without cause.
Spain Poor man's Italy.
Russia Cold, corrupt and neo-nazism is taking off.
Japan Nice place, but not my cup of tea.


Hahahah, yeah who the hell put ireland, that place is justa gaint boggy swamp, dublins quite nice but thats it.

but you've got spain wrong, spain kicks ass to the max, barcelona, madrid, leon, dont tell me these places dont kick ass to the max

Where the hell is Australia and NZ?

bah be gone with you

Britain The most widely spoken language, the best literature, parliamentary democracy, industrial revolution, best comedy etc.

The UK is just as warmongering as the US. Let's not forget that. Furthermore "best comedy" is entirely in the eye of the beholder, just like "best literature". Actually claiming "best literature" is arrogant. Shakespeare is not the alpha and omega of literature. There are plenty more authors (also German ones) who are just as well-known, i.e. Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Nietzsche, Schiller, Lessing, etc.

Regarding the industrial revolution, I'd say that the working conditions and treatment of the workers back then was not so great - especially in UK, whereas Germany "invented" the socialist and worker rights to reduce the hardships of the workers and those who happen to be without work.

Regarding the parliamentary democracy system - I dunno... it seems to me to be a little weird to have such a mix of monarchy (house of Lords) and republic.

And while English may be the most widely spoken language, it is by far not the language spoken by most people. In fact, since a while, I see a loss of prestige of the English language - also comparable to the warmongering by the two nations who are the dominant users of this language. And in a few decades or centuries, English will be just like Latin, a dead language (http://www.english-learning.co.uk/langbattle.html) :)

I live in America and I'm pretty happy here. in my opinion, its the best place to me.
I have no unfair criticism or hatred of any other country-I've spent time in several. I'm comfortable here, I want what I have and my family is flourishing.
I have it good-my families standard of living-education,nutrition, health, recreation, etc-is likely above average. There are some that have it better than I do here and some that have it worse.
I do intend to travel more in the future, very interested in Australia and New Zealand.

Hahahah, yeah who the hell put ireland, that place is justa gaint boggy swamp, dublins quite nice but thats it.

but you've got spain wrong, spain kicks ass to the max, barcelona, madrid, leon, dont tell me these places dont kick ass to the max


I would spend more time in Ireland. The country side was beatiful and the Irish people I knew were some of the warmest, intelligent and compassionate people I've met.

ENTER THE FLAME FEST

jesus christ you guys should kinow this is going to lead to squabling

ENTER THE FLAME FEST

jesus christ you guys should kinow this is going to lead to squabling


I agree that was likely the intent of this thread, but not everyone is flaming. Some of us are capable of stating our opinion without being outwardly hostile and misinformed.

I agree that was likely the intent of this thread, but not everyone is flaming. Some of us are capable of stating our opinion without being outwardly hostile and misinformed.

well possibly....