NationStates Jolt Archive

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Maybe the Canadians aren't douchebags like the rest of the world.

But the American in me says that they're pussies.

It's one or the other.

It's not Canadian to make a fuss about ourselves.

We have no need to conquer the world. We're just fine, sitting here, rolling around in our oil money, thanks.

Well we were, until Stephen Harper came along and offered his ass to Bush in exchange for... um...a shitty softwood lumber deal? or something like that.

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Canada's not a big fat attention whore like the US?

I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason I've been anti-American lately......... *ponders*

Canada's not a big fat attention whore like the US?

I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason I've been anti-American lately......... *ponders*

Aww, welcome to teenagerhood, Pancake. :)

Canada's not a big fat attention whore like the US?

I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason I've been anti-American lately......... *ponders*

judging from your thread, sounds like you would make a great hippie.

judging from your thread, sounds like you would make a great hippie.

Strangely enough, my parents think I'm a hippie.

Perhaps I am a hippie... I can be a tree-hugger at times, and I can be pretty laid-back...

:eek: I'm the uber-hippie! :eek:

Strangely enough, my parents think I'm a hippie.

Perhaps I am a hippie... I can be a tree-hugger at times, and I can be pretty laid-back...

:eek: I'm the uber-hippie! :eek:
No. Ladamesansmerci is the uberhippie.

Strangely enough, my parents think I'm a hippie.

Perhaps I am a hippie... I can be a tree-hugger at times, and I can be pretty laid-back...

:eek: I'm the uber-hippie! :eek:

Superhippie resents that, and will respond in this fasion:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/RussianRainbowGathering_4Aug2005.jpg/180px-RussianRainbowGathering_4Aug2005.jpg

Superhippie resents that, and will respond in this fasion:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/RussianRainbowGathering_4Aug2005.jpg/180px-RussianRainbowGathering_4Aug2005.jpg

Can smell him from here.:(

No. Ladamesansmerci is the uberhippie.

But what does that make me?

But what does that make me?

Uberpancake?

Strangely enough, my parents think I'm a hippie.

Perhaps I am a hippie... I can be a tree-hugger at times, and I can be pretty laid-back...

:eek: I'm the uber-hippie! :eek:

holy crap...you sound exactly like an old girlfriend...whom i now work with...hmmm and she's my best friend's sister...ok weird. why am i telling you people my life story...but you know if i didnt want you to know this then i would have deleted this a few sentences ago and been done with it...but i didnt. so does that mean that i want you to know all about my life...not necessarially but yeah because i know that i dont know you people...wait...so thats bad...damn im rambling. ok done.

this has so gone totally off topic



You will make a good hippie though....

Just because Canada isn't more aggressive on the world stage doesn't mean they're pussies. Canada is simply acting in its own interests, which is, for now, fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan.

Population's too small, no industry that ever really gave it a technological advantage, little to no desire to interact with the outside world outside of the necessary and polite. Large stretches of relatively unpopulated land.

But really it's the population. If Canada had the population to back up it's size, it would be an uberpower.

They're cowering in fear of the evil reptilian kitten-eaters from another planet that rule them.

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Canada is only larger in area than the US (the #3 sized country) by 300,000 square km. In other words, Canada is only larger than the US by an Italy.

Population wise, Canada is #36, behind Morocco.

Yes, the GDP is good, but only 1/12th of the US or EU, barely higher than Mexico or South Korea.

And the World Wars? It was still part of the British Empire during WWI, and was only independent for a decade in WW2 -- and thus still had very close ties to the UK. (That, and let's face it, Canada was afraid of Japanese invasion via Alaska and needed the Allies.)

So: Small population in a big country. They do well for themselves, but like Australia or Poland are too small to project more than secondary influence on the world stage.

Canada's not a big fat attention whore like the US?

I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason I've been anti-American lately......... *ponders*

NationStates is working dependablely as always on the minds of the young people.

Canada is only larger in area than the US (the #3 sized country) by 300,000 square km. In other words, Canada is only larger than the US by an Italy.

Population wise, Canada is #36, behind Morocco.

Yes, the GDP is good, but only 1/12th of the US or EU, barely higher than Mexico or South Korea.

And the World Wars? It was still part of the British Empire during WWI, and was only independent for a decade in WW2 -- and thus still had very close ties to the UK. (That, and let's face it, Canada was afraid of Japanese invasion via Alaska and needed the Allies.)

So: Small population in a big country. They do well for themselves, but like Australia or Poland are too small to project more than secondary influence on the world stage.

Correct. We're an Australia that's too cold for the Kangaroos.

Canada is slowly but steadily putting itself in place to be a major economic power in the future.

When the USA and the EU have run out of usable resources then countries like Canada, that have resources to spare, will be in a position of immense economic power.

actually, ccanada is more like 36th by population, Japan is 10th.

Because Canada is the better America?

this has so gone totally off topic



You will make a good hippie though....

Everyone says that....... ;)

NationStates is working dependablely as always on the minds of the young people.

:p

Correct. We're an Australia that's too cold for the Kangaroos.

But with a superior hockey playing population! :D

location location location

canada is a huge country but most if it is too damned cold. the big population zone of canada is within 100 miles of the US border. think about it, there are very few cities of any size in the US that sit on the canadian border--too far north, too damned cold.

besides, when you are the closest neighbor and bestest friend of the bully of the world, its a waste of time and money to compete with them over world domination.

if anyone fucks with canada they are able to take care of themselves. if it gets out of hand (which it wont) the US is there to help them out. what is the sense of having more defense than you need?

Because it's full of Canadians.

Just because Canada isn't more aggressive on the world stage doesn't mean they're pussies. Canada is simply acting in its own interests, which is, for now, fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan.

Fighting George Bush's war on terror isn't acting in our own interests.That's acting in George Bush's interests. Fuck the backwoods Tory Republican-wannabes and their open-tonsil policy of American appeasement.

Canidains are not wimps by any stretch of the imagineation. They supply peace keepers for the UN for a lot of conflicts and are supporting NATO in Afghanistan. These troops are doing it with mostly obsolete equipment compared with what the U.S. or Europen troops are carrying.

Canada's not a big fat attention whore like the US?

I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason I've been anti-American lately......... *ponders*

Anti-American or anti-Bush? There is a difference you know. :)

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.
Land size doesn't make any difference, and 10th in population isn't particularly impressive. A 1 trillion GDP is not very impressive either, IIRC. The USA's is 12 times that size, China's is 9 times and Poland and Australia's GDPs together are greater.

Wait, what? Where did you get this idea of 10th in population? It's 36th...

Never mind, been said.

Anti-American or anti-Bush? There is a difference you know. :)

Hmmm, perhaps anti-Bush.

Fighting George Bush's war on terror isn't acting in our own interests.That's acting in George Bush's interests. Fuck the backwoods Tory Republican-wannabes and their open-tonsil policy of American appeasement.

We didn't go to war in Iraq, so... HA!
Yes. Mr. Harper is a Bush-luva.

International interventions are expensive, and the Canadian government has been consistently committed to running a balanced budget.

International interventions are expensive, and the Canadian government has been consistently committed to running a balanced budget.

And it's not an attention-whore.

We didn't go to war in Iraq, so... HA!
Yes. Mr. Harper is a Bush-luva.
Man, remember how after Cretien deceided not to get involved in the war and Harper went on some show in the states and went on about how Canada sucked for not doing that and wrote into a couple US newspapers saying the same thing?

What a fucking jackass.

Man, remember how after Cretien deceided not to get involved in the war and Harper went on some show in the states and went on about how Canada sucked for not doing that and wrote into a couple US newspapers saying the same thing?

What a fucking jackass.

I know...! And I remember him saying somewhere to a group of Americans (I believe it was a Republican group) how Canada won't be as amazing as the United States or something, and just being a complete suck-up to them.

What kind of politician would say shit like that about their own country? :mad:

I know...! And I remember him saying somewhere to a group of Americans (I believe it was a Republican group) how Canada won't be as amazing as the United States or something, and just being a complete suck-up to them.

What kind of politician would say shit like that about their own country? :mad:
The kind that doesn't really have a tough act to follow and whose adherents are mostly idiots.

The kind that doesn't really have a tough act to follow and whose adherents are mostly idiots.

Indeed, the moronic kind.

Indeed, the moronic kind.
Pretty much.

And the kind that knows that the people voting for him care more about tax breaks, oppressing "teh gayz" and cutting funds to social services than they do about their own country. Or people who are just pissed at the Liberals...

Pretty much.

And the kind that knows that the people voting for him care more about tax breaks, oppressing "teh gayz" and cutting funds to social services than they do about their own country. Or people who are just pissed at the Liberals...

My mom voted Conservative! I say boo to that!

My mom voted Conservative! I say boo to that!
Boo to your mom voting conservative?

Fuck the backwoods Tory Republican-wannabes and their open-tonsil policy of American appeasement.

Easy on the revisionism Dobber. It was the Liberals that sent Us to war. Maybe Harper wanted to, but it wasnt/couldnt be his decision. We had a liberal Government.

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Holy mix-n-match grab bag of irrelevant (and occasionally false) items.

We engage in the international ecenomy in the areas that matter to us. Mostly that relates to NAFTA issues as well as APEC and some other organizations that we belong to.

As far as foreign politics - exactly where do you want Canada to be? Sitting there cheerleading America? How is that in our best interest? And does Canada have a UN Security Council veto power? Nope. Kimda limits the weight that is given to our position.

However, if you actually paid attention to the initiatives to which we have lent our weight, you might just be suprised. From the International Declaration of Human Rights, through to our support on Land Mine use treaties and involvement in the ICC - there are lots of places where Canada has influenced major issues.

We just don't assume that the only way to affect change is at the point of a gun....


Now then - what EXACT role do you think that Canada SHOULD be doing that we aren't?

I mean, you whine a good whine, but it's pretty damn short on sunstance.

Canada is like a really nice loft apartment, over a really great party.

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.
Because Canadians are potato-suckin' commies!

The kind that doesn't really have a tough act to follow and whose adherents are mostly idiots.

Yep.

All politicians can die.

One could argue that Canada is the most powerful nation in the world if one counts the number and power of countries that would instantly come to their aid if they were attacked by anyone.

One could argue that Canada is the most powerful nation in the world if one counts the number and power of countries that would instantly come to their aid if they were attacked by anyone.

But no one ever seems to attack Canada. What's the point of attacking it anyways? It's not like it goes around pissing other countries off on a daily basis (cough cough) though there are a lot of superpowers that would come to its aid...

In Soviet Canada, maple syrup pours on YOU!

In Soviet Canada, maple syrup pours on YOU!

This is also true in porn.

In Soviet Canada, maple syrup pours on YOU!

...

In Soviet Canada, you hit hockey puck in face at 70 mph!

This is also true in porn.

:eek:

Soviet Porn?

Easy on the revisionism Dobber. It was the Liberals that sent Us to war. Maybe Harper wanted to, but it wasnt/couldnt be his decision. We had a liberal Government.
Uh... it was the Liberals who kept us out of the war with Iraq and Harper who went stateside to bitch about it.

But no one ever seems to attack Canada. What's the point of attacking it anyways? It's not like it goes around pissing other countries off on a daily basis (cough cough) though there are a lot of superpowers that would come to its aid...

since when is one alot..?

:eek:

Soviet Porn?

hmmm...sicle and hammer chicks huh?

Umm....Hockey happened!:p

since when is one alot..?
Yeah, I'm sure that most of Europe wouldn't show up to help Canada either.

:eek:

Soviet Porn?

It jacks off to you.

Yeah, I'm sure that most of Europe wouldn't show up to help Canada either.

As we saw in Jugoslavia, most of Europe wouldn't show up to help Europe either. :(

It jacks off to you.

:eek:

:eek:

you had to ask
you think you know by now not to ask

you had to ask
you think you know by now not to ask

I was joking!

I was joking!

we dont joke in Soviet Australia ;)

we dont joke in Soviet Australia ;)

We do in Soviet-NSG!

We do in Soviet-NSG!

then you are not ture Soviet people ;)
now that brings back a show i heard called do Communist people have better sex

Canada is the world's second largest nation. it's something like 10th in population, has a GDP of over US$ 1 Trillion. It played a large role in both world wars, holding its own beach head at normandy. So why isnt canada a bigger player in international economy and foreign politics? it makes sense that it should be...but...its not.

Canada is something like...........36th in population!! So they are a "small" country by global standarts....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population

Edit: On the other hand, they got only 1 million more people than backwater small desert country of Morocco.....Demographic statistics always depress me....

Canada is something like...........36th in population!! So they are a "small" country by global standarts....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population

Edit: On the other hand, they got only 1 million more people than backwater small desert country of Morocco.....Demographic statistics always depress me....
Why does that bother you? I have no problem with our country being underpopulated. It allows our resources to last longer, and gives hope that we can use them sustainably. Even better, we can accept immigration of up to 1% of our population annually without a strain.

Why does that bother you? I have no problem with our country being underpopulated. It allows our resources to last longer, and gives hope that we can use them sustainably. Even better, we can accept immigration of up to 1% of our population annually without a strain.

I love immagrants accents are cute.

Why does that bother you? I have no problem with our country being underpopulated. It allows our resources to last longer, and gives hope that we can use them sustainably. Even better, we can accept immigration of up to 1% of our population annually without a strain.

It's generally better to have a well-educated, healthy, and balanced workforce than it is to have a huge, undereducated, and imbalanced one. The key is to balance population growth, education, and health in a way that makes your labor force sustainable.