Beating around the Bush ???

[dZeus]

Switzerland doesn't have anything to say, because they just don't say anything. Isn't it the Swiss political policy to remain neutral on as many points as possible? Well, it isn't a bad policy, but it can seem very harsh to the outside world in some conflicts... (no policy is problem-free)

[Vlip]

Switzerland's neutrality is mostly thought about war times! We won't take party for any side of a regular war.
In typical political life, Switzerland does have an opinion and expresses it to whoever wants to hear it.

Switzerland has pushed the concept of neutrality to such a point, that it forbids us to arm our military forces we send in foreign countries for peacekeeping.
Our good old extrem left wing politicians just believe you can always talk to settle a solution. Just tell that to the freak with a Kalachnikov! (I don't even want to speak from the point of view of the extrem right politicians who believe a Swiss soldiers does not belong anywhere else outside our borders, especially for Peacekeeping)

Switzerland needs to move on that point, but neutrality is maybe as anchored in our mind than the freedom of bearing arms is in your country.

Vlip

[Joel]

www.auschron.com/issues/vol18/issue45/pols.sci.html

Joel

[dZeus]

Switzerland needs to move on that point, but neutrality is maybe as anchored in our mind than the freedom of bearing arms is in your country.

What make you think that we are allowed to bear arms here?

Oh... it's the Mars thingie... I actually live in the Netherlands... and there are even stricter gun laws than in your country here... not sure about mars though

[Vlip]

Oups, sorry Dzeus, I just assumed you were american, I didn't check your nationality. All my fault.

Vlip

[Himself]

I always thought you were from Mars.

[Maggi]

Whoa ... what a stir ...

Just for clarification:

I didn't have any such quotes from Al, if I had I would have posted 'em right besides the ones from George.



Either way, it looks like the US is screwed ...

Cheers,
Maggi

[Pneumatic]

I don't know if I would go so far as to say that the US is "screwed". Either way it goes America will continue to be the most powerful, most prosperous nation in the world. The President doesn't have ultimate authority over every thing that happens in the country. The Senate and Congress have much more to do with what actually goes on from day to day. Whomever wins I would still rather live here than anywhere else.

[Himself]

I think the US is a great place for Americans to live, there is really no need for them to go beyond their borders.

What would be neat is if someone could do that old Spiderman trick of raising the entire place into the air with a force field around it. Perhaps send it to the moon, that way they could really be above everybody else and no one would mind.

[Pneumatic]

That would suit me fine. We would survive just fine. Unfortunately a lot of countries around the world wouldn't.

Himself: I notice that you don't put where you come fom. What exactly does your country contribute to the world? You make a list of everything your country does to help the planet and other countries. I'll make one when you are done and we will see who the world could live without. Deal?

[paulcs]

Himself is from Newfoundland, which was discovered by Leif Erickson, long before Columbus ran into El Salvador on his way to India. In 1003, in fact. Given the name of the place, I doubt Capt. Erickson thought he was in India either.

Bad PR, I guess.

Paul
paulcs@flashcom.net

[Himself]

No country is indispensable, if the US were to disappear, all 4% of the world's population with it, the world would move on and take up the slack, just like it would for any other country. Frankly, most electronic products are made in Taiwan, there are extreme surpluses in grains, general food crops across the world. Even your G400 comes from Matrox in Canada. I seriously can't name a US product that is 100% from the US.

Playing my country is better than yours games is stupid, that is my entire point, especially if you are judging where is best to live based on how many bombs a country has. Enough with the US is better than everywhere else, please. Countries are different, with different pros and cons, get over it.

PS: If you don't know where I am from, you just haven't been paying attention.

[Bixler]

Himself:

If you're from Newfoundland, I now understand your profile. Nothing sly intended there. Newfoundland and the Mississippi Delta have MUCH in common.

How're the flys up there m'man?? The Skeeters down here are bigger and badder than ever.

[paulcs]

I enjoy a good hypothetical conversation as much as the next guy, but this is a bit much.

The improbable voyage of the United States to the moon would destroy the economies of it's great, historical trading partners: Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Japan. Each of these countries are G7 nations and control much of the world's wealth. The consequences would be dire in the extreme.

The United States' most important economic partner is Canada. If Canada would take a trip to the moon, the United States' economy would be in extremely bad shape. If the United States were to disappear, Canada's economy would be in ruins, and it would, once again, be reliant on the United Kingdom for its defense.

Paul
paulcs@flashcom.net

[Himself]

Bixler,

From watching Huck Finn on TV, I'm guessing MS is some sort of humid place with lots of rivers. We have lots of rivers, but few bugs, it's too cold most of the year. We have a resource based economy, hydro- electric power, forestry, mining, oil, etc. We used to be about fish, that's where most of the culture lies, but there are no more fish. Lots of evergreen trees, lots of small hills, few flat surfaces to be found anywhere. Lot's of fog and rain and snow.

paulcs,

I think long term, it no longer matters what a single country does, most companies are global in nature today. Without one G7 partner, either another country would be promoted or the rest would get richer.

As for defense, we'd be surrounded on all sides by water and ice. Just as easily nuked as before, there is no defense againsta that outside of star wars, and if someone wanted to invade, they better bring an extra pair of hiking boots, and some wooly underwear, because it's a large, cold, territory.



[This message has been edited by Himself (edited 20 November 2000).]