Anyone else read that in the voice of Golem?
As for the OP. Mexico would be a great super power if it’s internal problems weren’t so bad in addition to it being a decidedly religious nation.
Canada, Australia, or a coalition of the scandinavian countries would probably be the best bet. For an interesting world, Thailand mixed with Mexico and West Africa (LOL) would rank up there too.
<nitpick>
You mean Gollum.
A golem is a magically constructed, animated creature in Dungeons & Dragons.
</nitpick>
<nitpick>
Talk of Dungeons and Dragons for ANY reason is not something that should be discussed by anyone over 14 lest you be referred to as “comic bookstore guy” from the Simpsons.
</nitpick>
The same almanac that gave me total military expenditures ranks the spending as a percent of GDP this way:
North Korea
Oman
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Iraq
Russia
Croatia
Israel
with other pieces of Yugoslavia in there, but with vague percentages.
For absolute expenditures:
USA
Russia
China
Japan
France
Germany
UK
Italy
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Taiwan
Brazil
Canada
Israel
Spain
USA ranks #39 on the percent of GDP, China #86. Canada (since I made such a big deal about it) ranks #112, while Australia with its smaller economy ranks #78. This is from a 2000 almanac.
You’re just jealous that my 9th-level paladin can beat up your 8th-level ranger.
Australia, definitely, as long as John Howard is replaced by Peter Garrett 
Yeah and as long as Garrett promises not to wear a suit but goes shirtless as much as possible.
Actually, the US don’t give much in the way of foreign aid (less than any other developped country in %age of GNP), and it’s not like there aren’t any volunteers from other countries working in develloping countries.
Foreign aid is really not the strong point of the US. At the contrary.
That would make great world leaders…
It’s called the congregation for the doctrine of the faith…
Actually, the golems predate “dungeons and dragons”. It seems to me these artificial beings are related to the Jewish tradition, or at least were said to be related to esoteric Jewish traditions.
I put my french veto on this proposal…
GNP, schmeeNP. You can’t challenge the fact that the US provides more foreign aid than any other country.
But since it’s not our strong point, I guees we should stop sending it. What a relief.
Actually, it doesn’t. Japan gives more foreign aid. The US is only second (though I believe Japan reduced its foreign aid last year, but generally speaking, this country is the first donor in amount) . Germany or France foreign aid is in the same league (in amount) than US foreign aid with only 1/3 or 1/4th of the US population (and a much lower GNP). Some north-european countries who spend close to 1% of their GNP on foreign aid are way above the US (relatively speaking, in %age of GNP).
As for stopping sending it : sure, even if the US gave only 1/10th of what it gives, it would still be better than nothing. But what I mean is that you can’t use the US supposed generosity as an argument to say it somehow deserves to be the world leader. If you think this a valid reason, then either Japan or Denmark should be the world leader, not the US.
No one claimed foreign aid to be the deciding factor in regards to the OP.
I simply meant that should be a part of the reason. BTW the US is #1 in dollars beating out Japan by a few billion. First time in a few years though.
The US gave twice as much as France and since we’re on it. Most of France’s foreign aid went to French Indonesia.
While the US gave basically equal divisions of it’s F/Aid pie w/ Europe taking a big slice.
Almost no foreign aid came to the Americas from Europe.
I’m not trying to have a pissing contest, but this is one where few can compete. Reason for smaller countries w/ greater % aid=less military spending.
I said before, we’re not perfect, never claimed to be…politics usually fucks up the people’s intent. If the money the US people give went exactly where it was intended…then all would be well.
You know how that goes!
http://www.oecd.org/oecd/pages/home/displaygeneral/0,3380,EN-countrylist-57-2-no-no-77-57,00.html
http://www.oecd.org/oecd/pages/home/displaygeneral/0,3380,EN-countrylist-57-2-no-no-77-57,00.html
Peace
Some figures from the CIA factbook, ** Il Topo **
The USA, with a population of 281 millions and a GDP of 10 082 billions dollars gives 6.9 billions $ in foreign aid.
As for the country I mentionned :
Japan (45% of the US population, 34% of US GDP) gives 9,1 billions $ ( 30% more than the US)
Germany (30% of US population, 26% of the US GDP) gives 5,6 billions $ (81% of the US aid)
France (21% of US population, 15% of its GDP) gives 6,3 billions $ (91% of the US aid)
Denmark (2% of the US population, 1.5% of its GDP) gives 1,6 billions $ (23% of US the aid!!!)
Just to make clear that the US not only isn’t the first foreign aid donors, but is only roughly on par with other major (but much smaller and less rich) western countries, and that some little countries, with only 1 or 2% of the US wealth manage to give 1/4th of what the US gives.
Actually, the US is known (except amongst some poorly informed american people, apparently) as a particulary not generous country. The US stopping giving foreign aid wouldn’t make more difference than France stopping giving foreign aid, or scandinavian countries stopping giving foreign aid.
The US aid is significant, but not that significant in the grand scheme of things.
To french Indonesia 
What is this thing?
Then state that the US should be world leader because it spend more on his military than anybody else. Not because it gives plenty of money in foreign aid.
Or else, I can as well claim that France should be world leader because it has a larger population than any other country.
Sorry that was supposed to be Polynesia, I posted a correction but it didn’t take.
I gathered from this page (but it’s in french) that (poorly translated) :
(I don’t know to which year this page is refering to, though)
So, I assume by “french indonesia” you meant “former french colonies in sub-saharian Africa”…
I definitely have an issue with bolding (yes…I know…I should review…)