# If not America, who would you like to be The Superpower? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 2, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076 "2002-12-02T23:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/61 "2002-12-05T05:27:14Z")
It would have to be a nation that I feel has the balls to stand up for the underdogs of the world. Sometimes they might seem a bit aggressive but, considering the past atrocities due to apathetic leaders. I would desire the Superpower of choice be one who would help when needed. It sounds great to pick a country with “no problems” but is that someone who would keep the neighbors behind their own fence. Would they stand up to the bully? …doubtful Being a superpower doesn’t mean just military. Ever wonder how much assistance the US provides abroad? We have our own people that need help, yet we send billions of $$ & goods to foreign countries in an effort to help. Thousands of our citizens volunteer to assist other countries, many to their own detriment. Sure, we screw up now and then, sorry …but don’t you think it’s better the US than say…hmmm Germany (not picking just an example), how 'bout Korea or China, maybe Iran or Saudi Arabia. How much $$ do ya think USSR spent in other nations on human rights? My vote…AUSTRALIA I think they’d be there for us, I’ll damn sure be there for them. They’ve got conscience, intelligence, courage, etc. I could go on but you get the picture. Sorry Canadians, I love y’all too…you were my 2nd choice. It was a tough pick, since your so close and everything. I’d feel real good w/ y’all watching OVER me as it were. Peace ---
**Author:** ![abogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@abogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abogan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/62 "2002-12-05T08:38:23Z")
I vote for Grand Finwick. It’s the only small country with prior experience. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/63 "2002-12-05T09:05:20Z")
I vote for China. Time to get a taste of the East! ---
**Author:** ![partly\_warmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@partly\_warmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partly_warmer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/64 "2002-12-05T12:15:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rampisad \* > \*\*Spike Milligan for President of the World! \*\* Thing would have been more interesting, wouldn’t they? Insert shameless plug for his war diaries, starting with “Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall”. To the OP: Let’s have Greenpeace as a superpower. Yes, yessssss. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/65 "2002-12-05T12:47:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by litost \* > \*\*I vote for China. Time to get a taste of the East! \*\* This is more of a prediction really. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/66 "2002-12-05T18:01:49Z")
I don’t really have anything to add to the discussion proper, but I wanted to claim **nameless’s** shiny new nickel for my own. Is the book “Choke”? Jeff ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/67 "2002-12-05T23:39:06Z")
Let’s start with the [G20 Nations](http://g20.nic.in/indexe.html) and subtract all the current and former superpowers. That excludes most of the G7+, namely USA, UK, Russia, France, and Japan. And I guess Germany had dealings in southwest Africa. Italy is more of a special case. Canada is not, so they’re still in the game. India, Turkey, and China are also special cases. We’ve also got Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia (which is perhaps also a special case, if you ask the Timorese). In case you’re wondering, former superpowers Spain and Holland are not in the G20. (Though I’ll note that Spain today has as much superpower potential as Canada.) So here’s the list to play with: **Canada Mexico Brazil Argentina South Africa South Korea Australia Turkey Saudi Arabia** and special consideration for **Italy China India Indonesia** The next superpower will need a military. So I’ll exclude all those that don’t rank in the top 20 military spenders: India, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, and Indonesia are all cut. And so are you, Australia (sorry). A superpower should not only be wealthy, but have a high per capita GDP. Of the remaining contenders, Brazil is the most significantly impaired in this area. Gone. I’m gonna cut Saudi Arabia because the government is a mess. The finalists are **Canada, Italy, China** and **South Korea** Canada ranks high in quality of life, but has the lowest population. China has the most population, of course, but the most messed up government system. South Korea, luckily, is getting its government act together. I’m gonna dump Italy, because it just doesn’t act like a superpower. Australia, however, has been lately, so I’m gonna put them back in contention, despite having less population than Canada. So let’s say the world’s next superpower is a **Canada-Australia** axis, with South Korea waiting in the wings. And China, of course, but those commies bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/68 "2002-12-06T05:04:37Z")
Good point, \*\*TheeGrumpy{/B]. The question is if and when China’s exploding economy will bump up against the fact that the government, while more and more seems to be slipping thru its fingers, is repressive and clinging desperately to a failed theory. Good call on the military budget, too. However, maybe it should be percentage of spending per population? Of course, that would mean countries like North Korea would be in the mix. I have a silly question: Do Canadians and Australians LIKE each other? Despite the old-colonies thang, I would think they have very different personalities. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/69 "2002-12-06T05:47:27Z")
Ireland. Politically neutral democracy, increasingly advanced in tech, and speaks English…pretty much established as the international language. Ireland already has an empire of sorts…there are more people of irish decent in America and Australia each than there are citizens in Ireland itself. Wouldn’t an Irish Superpower just make the UK scream bloody murder? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/70 "2002-12-06T06:24:17Z")
I suspect that Canada thinks about Australia in much the same way that the U.S. does. Nice, friendly people. Hot babes, hard drinkers. Our kinda people. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/71 "2002-12-06T10:38:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enola Straight \* > \*\*Ireland. > Wouldn’t an Irish Superpower just make the UK scream bloody murder? \*\* You have just realised the point of our nuclear weapons. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/72 "2002-12-06T11:22:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enola Straight \* > Ireland already has an empire of sorts…there are more people of irish decent in America and Australia each than there are citizens in Ireland itself. At least 10 times more. Just under 4 mil of us over here. We already are setting up our command centres around the world. Go to any large city in the world and you’ll find them under Bars in the yellow pages with names like Murphy’s and Ryan’s 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/73 "2002-12-06T11:32:56Z")
I’d kind of like there to be **no** superpower (not that I dislike America or anything, it would just be nice if there was no need for power struggles. But since the OP specifically forbids me offering this as an answer, I’ll suggest Switzerland. All world military forces would be subject to the Swiss Navy. ---
**Author:** ![il\_Topo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb9ed0/32.png) [@il\_Topo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/il_Topo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/74 "2002-12-06T18:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furt \* > **The Vatican.** God forbid! The last time the Vatican tried to mixing its religion with political control didn’t work too well (come to think of it, that _NEVER_ works well), or are things like the inquisitions and crusades but a distant dream now? ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/75 "2002-12-06T18:10:31Z")
> [@](#): > > or are things like the inquisitions and crusades but a distant dream now? See Bush vs Saddam II. [major hijack] Canadians to lead weapons inspection team into USA A coalition of Canadian peace groups today announced their intention to send an international team of volunteer weapons inspectors into the United States later this winter. The coalition, Rooting Out Evil, are recruiting inspectors through their newly launched website,[www.rootingoutevil.org](http://www.rootingoutevil.org). “Our action has been inspired by none other than George W. Bush,” said Christy Ferguson, a spokesperson for the group. "The Bush administration has repeatedly declared that the most dangerous rogue nations are those that: 1. have massive stockpiles of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; 2. ignore due process at the United Nations; 3. refuse to sign and honour international treaties; and 4. have come to power through illegitimate means. “On the basis of President Bush’s guidelines, it is clear that the current U.S. administration poses a great threat to global security,” said Ferguson. “We’re following Bush’s lead and demanding that the U.S.grant our inspectors immediate and unfettered access to any site in the country - including all presidential compounds - so that we can identify the weaponsof mass destruction in this rogue state,” added David Langille. Visitors to Rooting Out Evil’s website are invited to sign on as honorary members of the weapons inspection team. Honorary inspectors can participate in the action, or they can simply lend the support of theirname as they would on a petition. The actual inspection team that crosses the border will be comprised of prominent individuals from Canada and other countries. The Rooting Out Evil coalition includes Greenpeace Canada, the Centre for Social Justice, and the Toronto Committee Against War and Sanctions on Iraq, and is supported by American groups such as the National Network to End the War Against Iraq, Global Exchange and the US section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. They oppose the development, storage, and use of weapons of mass destruction by any state. For information: [info@rootingoutevil.org](mailto:info@rootingoutevil.org) [/hijack] Sorry… but you asked about crusades… ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/76 "2002-12-06T18:31:52Z")
> [@](#): > > […] are things like the inquisitions and crusades but a distant dream now? As a matter of fact I think they are by now, thankfully enough, but a distant memory of a nightmare. Sparc ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/77 "2002-12-06T18:51:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sparc \* > \*\*As a matter of fact I think they are by now, thankfully enough, but a distant memory of a nightmare. > > Sparc \*\* Welcome to your nightmare. The inquisition most certainly still exists. It has changed it’s name but it is still there. I suspect that they have abondoned the red hot irons and the comfy chairs. Tragically I am at work and can’t tell you what its called at present, but it was called something like the office of the saints. Owl (a catholic, googling like mad, on the basis of something he read in fortean times about Padre Pio, and possibly walking into a bear trap) ---
**Author:** ![il\_Topo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb9ed0/32.png) [@il\_Topo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/il_Topo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/78 "2002-12-06T19:06:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > The inquisition most certainly still exists. It has changed it’s name but it is still there. > > Tragically I am at work and can’t tell you what its called at present, but it was called something like the office of the saints. What the heck are you talking about? > [@](#): > > Owl (a catholic, googling like mad, on the basis of something he read in fortean times about Padre Pio, and possibly walking into a bear trap) I see the “googling like mad” part, but I have to ask the question agasin: What the heck are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![il\_Topo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb9ed0/32.png) [@il\_Topo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/il_Topo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/79 "2002-12-06T19:13:54Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > > \*\*The inquisition most certainly still exists. It has changed it’s name but it is still there. > > > > Tragically I am at work and can’t tell you what its called at present, but it was called something like the office of the saints.\*\* > > \*Originally posted by il Topo \* > **What the heck are you talking about?** Trying to give you the benefit of the doubt: Are you talking about the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Sacred Congregation of the Inquisition, or something like that (at least that’s what I’ve read elsewhere)? Hardly the Inquisition. They don’t have political/secular authority anymore. That was my point. Give the Church control over thoughtcrimes (other than nonviolent/spiritual control such as excommunication), and you’ve got one heckuva nightmare on your hands. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076/80 "2002-12-06T19:51:18Z")
I vote for … _ **The Green Lantern** _ !! His power ring is **way** cooler than Captain America’s piddling little super-soldier-serum-enhanced body and that joke of a shield. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-america-who-would-you-like-to-be-the-superpower/140076.md?page=5)