If Not America, who would you like to be The Superpower?

Factual Questions
1

OK, I twisted my ankle yesterday and stayed home today, doing waaay too much websurfing. I hung out for a while over at the BBC News Talking Point to read about the Iraqi Human Rights report released by the British today. Most of the posts were attacking not the horrors of Saddam but the ‘hypocrisy’ of the US and UK and the warmongering Bush, etc. etc. The basic thread seemed to be that the rest of the world was unhappy with the US and its allies making decisions about Iraq. But that’s what superpowers end up doing, exercising power.

So I’ve decided to pose a question that actually has been on my mind for a few weeks, and was also brought up by the Stereotypes Of Americans thread; if not us, who? Which nation would you like to be the world’s superpower? Which do you think would benefit the world most? Whose ideals do you think would be “best” for world prosperity and peace? Who do you think other nations would respect most and listen to? Whose pop culture and political system would make the world a better place?

A couple of ground rules, 'cause it’s my thread :smiley:

  1. The assumption of the OP is that yes, there is one remaining superpower. You can’t postulate that all the countries would hold hands and share the power, or any other tree-hugging hippie crap :wink:

  2. Countries that have ALREADY been the superpower are hereby disqualified, especially those that were aggressively colonial. That means no Britain, no France or Netherlands or Portugal or Spain or Russia or Japan. And even smaller countries had their human rights horrors–no Belgium, for example. Ask the Congolese. I know most countries have traded off the superpower title through time, and some countries were more benign than others during their superpower-hood, but I’d like to see some new superpower candidates in the mix. If the sun has set on your empire, it stays down. Note: if your country WAS one of the colonized and you’re now independent, you’re eligible. Even if you still have Lizzie on your money. :wink:

And let’s see if we can get a list to critique and not get bogged down early in each other’s choices. “Iceland, dammit!” “South Africa, man!” “ICELAND!” “SOUTH AFRICA!” on and on for three pages–let’s try to avoid that for a little while.

As for my choice, I really don’t have one. There’s so many good points in so many other countries but none that has the perfect combo for me. I’ve wimped out, lost in :confused:

But I know you guys won’t. :slight_smile:

2

D’oh! I apologize, the hamsters tricked me into posting twice. Mods, please delete this thread. Sorry again and thanks.

3

Canada

Practically indistinguishable from the US as far as values and such plus the US would benefit from a strong trading partner on its border and benefit from the military umbrella Canada would undoubtedly spread over the US.

4

Dang…meant to mention I would also be happy with Australia or New Zealand in that seat.

Can’t really think of anyone else I’d much care for to hold that title except Great Britain but they are off the table per the OP rules.

5

Is there a factually correct answer to this question? Sounds like a poll to me.

6

Definitely in the wrong forum. However, I say Switzerland.

7

I moved this thread’s twin to GD, but I didn’t keep the link, on account of I didn’t know it was a twin at the time.

So I’m closing this one without a link to the other. Feel free to pop over to GD and see if it’s caught on over there.