# "I'm the President of the most powerful nation in the world..." **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377 "2013-09-21T11:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/1 "2013-09-21T11:40:43Z")
I recall in “Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye” that JFK said this about himself being the 'President of the most powerful nation on earth…" (Something like his advisers said he couldn’t go on a trip he wanted to go on, and his was "[above quote] and added, “…if I want to go to the Zoo, I’ll go!” At any rate, does Putin say/think this about himself? Does the Chinese Premier (???) say it? Do other nations actually see themselves as the ‘most powerful’ nations on the earth, or just when they have their game faces on? That’s the question. Thanks, hh ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/2 "2013-09-21T12:09:08Z")
Members of a certain age will remember that Bush Sr used this as his justification for removing broccoli from Air Force One. “I’m the President of the most powerful nation on earth, and I don’t want to eat broccoli in my airplane.” Like that. I would hope leaders of other countries are realistic enough to use correct adjectives. Russia is not the most powerful nation. nor is China, though they are gaining power. At this time, it’s still the US. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/3 "2013-09-21T12:16:01Z")
Perhaps not, but the difference would be that America actually _is_ (and, in JFK’s time, _was_) the most powerful nation on Earth. This may not remain true all that much longer, and, despite what its more jingoistic citizens may think, the USA is certainly not number one in all respects, but, in terms of _power_ (both military and economic), yes, the USA is currently very clearly number one, and has been at least since the end of WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/4 "2013-09-21T12:43:15Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Members of a certain age will remember that Bush Sr used this as his justification for removing broccoli from Air Force One. > “I’m the President of the most powerful nation on earth, and I don’t want to eat broccoli in my airplane.” Like that. > > I would hope leaders of other countries are realistic enough to use correct adjectives. Russia is not the most powerful nation. > nor is China, though they are gaining power. At this time, it’s still the US. Here is the full quote. > [@](#): > > ‘I do not like broccoli,’’ the President said, responding to queries about a broccoli ban he has imposed aboard Air Force One, first reported this week in U.S. News and World Report. ‘‘And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!’’ [From the NY Times in 1990.](http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/23/us/i-m-president-so-no-more-broccoli.html) ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/5 "2013-09-21T12:43:23Z")
As Paul Simon [explains](http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/127184/) > [@](#): > > If I was President > And the Congress call my name > I’d say “who do > Who do you think you’re fooling?” > I’ve got the Presidential Seal > I’m up on the Presidential Podium > My mama loves me > She loves me . . . ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/6 "2013-09-21T12:59:26Z")
However, as we have been taught by the likes of Dick Cheney and John Boehner, being president does not by itself make you the most powerful man in the country, whether that is the most powerful country in the world or not. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/7 "2013-09-21T13:31:25Z")
I’d say the US was _potentially_ the most powerful nation in the world. As Japan found out, America’s strength is it’s ability to rally behind a cause and gear up industry for war production. I’d add NK to that list. A country that overspends on it’s military to the detriment of it’s citizens. With over a million people under arms in NK, it has become a very real and very credible conventional force. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/8 "2013-09-21T13:36:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > However, as we have been taught by the likes of Dick Cheney and John Boehner, being president does not by itself make you the most powerful man in the country, whether that is the most powerful country in the world or not. I would hope we all were taught that in our Government and Constitution classes. There are a series of checks and balance in place to prevent that exact scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/9 "2013-09-21T13:48:30Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I recall in “Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye” that JFK said this about himself being the 'President of the most powerful nation on earth…" (Something like his advisers said he couldn’t go on a trip he wanted to go on, and his was "[above quote] and added, “…if I want to go to the Zoo, I’ll go!” > > At any rate, does Putin say/think this about himself? Does the Chinese Premier (???) say it? Do other nations actually see themselves as the ‘most powerful’ nations on the earth, or just when they have their game faces on? > > That’s the question. > > Thanks, > hh The US actually is still the world’s most powerful nation. It will lose that position soon to China, but until then… ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/10 "2013-09-21T13:51:01Z")
Broccoli is a really gassy vegetable. It’s just good governance to proscribe it from an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/11 "2013-09-21T13:59:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’d say the US was _potentially_ the most powerful nation in the world. As Japan found out, America’s strength is it’s ability to rally behind a cause and gear up industry for war production. > > I’d add NK to that list. A country that overspends on it’s military to the detriment of it’s citizens. With over a million people under arms in NK, it has become a very real and very credible conventional force. Nonsense. Ever since WWII the USA has had by far the most powerful military in the world. It is not a matter of numbers of troops, it is a matter of armaments, technology, and training. In a straight fight with North Korea, with gloves off and no other nations involved, NK would quickly be crushed like a bug, without any particular gearing up needed. (The reasons that will not happen in reality lie in what would happen to South Korea and perhaps other neighboring allies, and what China and perhaps Russia, far more formidable adversaries, might do if NK were attacked.) A gloves-off fight with China and Russia might take a bit more gearing up to win, and would probably cause some real and significant pain for the USA (such as major cities getting nuked!). But America would still begin with a considerable advantage, probably even against both China and Russia (and throw in NK too, if you like) in alliance. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/12 "2013-09-21T14:10:04Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Nonsense. Ever since WWII the USA has had by far the most powerful military in the world. It is not a matter of numbers of troops, it is a matter of armaments, technology, and training. In a straight fight with North Korea, with gloves off and no other nations involved, NK would quickly be crushed like a bug, without any particular gearing up needed. (The reasons that will not happen in reality lie in what would happen to South Korea and perhaps other neighboring allies, and what China and perhaps Russia, far more formidable adversaries, might do if NK were attacked.) > > A gloves-off fight with China and Russia might take a bit more gearing up to win, and would probably cause some real and significant pain for the USA (such as major cities getting nuked!). But America would still begin with a considerable advantage, probably even against both China and Russia (and throw in NK too, if you like) in alliance. I’d offer Vietnam as a rebuttal to your argument. If the US faced China and NK in \*their \* theater, I doubt we could win short of a nuclear response, in which case, we all lose. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/13 "2013-09-21T14:10:15Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > As Paul Simon [explains](http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/127184/) > > > [@](#): > > > > If I was President > > And the Congress call my name > > I’d say “who do > > Who do you think you’re fooling?” > > I’ve got the Presidential Seal > > I’m up on the Presidential Podium > > My mama loves me > > She loves me . . Hmmm… _When I was a little boy And the **Devil** would call my name … When I was grown to be a man And the **Devil** would call my name … If I was President And the **Congress** call my name_ Who says poetry has to be subtle? Just concise. In terms of military power, technology and air/navy fleet size, ability to project military power anywhere in the world, willingness of other countries to go along with much of what they do, stockpile and production capacity for advanced munitions, etc. - the USA has been and remains number one. At one time maybe the USSR was a close second, maybe soon China will be a contender, but number one? Ever since their insulated economic might basically won WWII, the USA has been the top dog. Economically, they have also been top since about the turn of the century - the third largest by population, far above any other first world country in internal market size, richest country in the world for most of the last century (if not all of it). With 300 million people in a single basically open market with stability and freedom to grow businesses - no wonder it is. China, the only real contender, has a long way to go to match the military or economic activity the USA has, and my prediction is that it will be too busy whack-a-moling social problems as it tries to reconcile dictatorship with economic freedom. It will face demands for more freedom, more rights, less corruption in business and legal systems, etc. - all which only happen with more open government. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/14 "2013-09-21T15:17:26Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’d offer Vietnam as a rebuttal to your argument. If the US faced China and NK in \*their \* theater, I doubt we could win short of a nuclear response, in which case, we all lose. “Most powerful” does not have to mean “omnipotent” or even “able to beat everyone in every circumstance.” A tank is more powerful than a mine… but the right mine at the right place will destroy a tank. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/15 "2013-09-21T16:37:42Z")
Being the biggest PITA or braggart doesn’t make you more powerful than the POTUS by any means. You still can’t launch the missles with him still around and functioning. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/16 "2013-09-21T16:43:27Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’d add NK to that list. A country that overspends on it’s military to the detriment of it’s citizens. With over a million people under arms in NK, it has become a very real and very credible conventional force. With no sustainable resources. If Norko were to attach South Korea, they could undoubtedly wreak total havoc all the way to the tip of the peninsula, at which point there would be twice as large a starving, destitute country. (That’s a complete-isolation scenario; the real one would have China supplying Norko while claiming they weren’t and the US moving nukes into functional position and possibly using them.) But Norko by itself is just a giant bag of shit that could make a real mess if they tried… not a world power. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/17 "2013-09-21T18:03:22Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > With no sustainable resources. If Norko were to attach South Korea, they could undoubtedly wreak total havoc all the way to the tip of the peninsula, at which point there would be twice as large a starving, destitute country. > > (That’s a complete-isolation scenario; the real one would have China supplying Norko while claiming they weren’t and the US moving nukes into functional position and possibly using them.) But Norko by itself is just a giant bag of shit that could make a real mess if they tried… not a world power. I’m not sure any country stands alone as “the” world power. Instead, the real world power is the strength of the alliances the nations are in. The US certainly has what is probably the ultimate technology, however, a good portion of that technology (nuclear) wouldn’t be used except for like-kind-response. (I have no inside information on when/why the US would use it’s nuclear weapons, so my comment is merely an assumption) By that time, I doubt life would ever be the same. Too many _what if_ scenarios to really answer the question. As **dracoi** pointed out earlier, even a cheap mine can destroy the best battle tank. Having the newest and best equipment isn’t a guaranty of success. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/18 "2013-09-21T18:20:32Z")
Since this thread has strayed from the question in the OP to a debate about national power, let’s move this to Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/19 "2013-09-21T23:53:43Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > A gloves-off fight with China and Russia might take a bit more gearing up to win, and would probably cause some real and significant pain for the USA (such as major cities getting nuked!). But America would still begin with a considerable advantage, probably even against both China and Russia (and throw in NK too, if you like) in alliance. US has the ability to put a no-fly zone over China. There’s no political will to do it, and it would cost a lot but the ability is there. But China can’t project force like that. Russia can’t either, nobody can send their military out like we can. 24/7, all weather too. Other forces don’t have that capability. Nobody runs carrier operations like we do, so even a nation that has the carriers to match our forward aircraft still can’t really compete with us on an equal footing. North Korea might be able to put such a no-fly zone over their own territory, but certainly nowhere else. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377/20 "2013-09-22T01:15:29Z")
> [@](#): > > At any rate, does Putin say/think this about himself? Does the Chinese Premier (???) say it? Do other nations actually see themselves as the ‘most powerful’ nations on the earth, or just when they have their game faces on? I seriously doubt that any other nation or leader considers him or herself the most powerful on earth at this time, no. Even the deluded folks in North Korea don’t ACTUALLY think they are the most powerful. I doubt it bothers them all that much (leaving aside NK) that they aren’t, either. China, for instance, knows it IS powerful…a superpower in fact…able to act on the world stage and exert influence, especially in it’s regional sphere. The difference is the US can exert influence on EVERY sphere, currently, and while it might not be as powerful in a given regional sphere as a regional superpower like China, the US is powerful globally in all the other spheres while China isn’t. That’s probably changing as the US starts to fade out, but it’s ridiculous to even contend that at this time and probably since WWII the US has been THE most powerful nation on earth…and probably will continue to be for at least another decade to come. Perhaps longer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377.md?page=2)