That's a very large footprint, tread carefully. ( Archived) (7)

I'm not sure most people understand, from a money is power veiwpoint, just how powerfull the U.S. is. I did a little checking, and was honestly suprised by what I found.

The following numbers are the result of very limited internet research. I make no claim to their accuracy, but I found them interesting...

The U.S. Gross National Product is more than double that of any other country.

Per capita our G.N.P is 25 percent higher than any other country.

U.S. military expenditures account for over 40 percent of the military spending on the planet.

Those expenditures are greater than the Gross National Product of all but less the 15 countries in the world.


So...

For those that point fingers and say "My country would never do that". In many cases your country CAN'T do that. There is a difference.

For those of us who may have a direct input to the stewardship of such power, I say "We have a heavy responsibility, lets do our best to mind it".





*disclaimer*
To some this may have sounded boastfull. So I want to be clear...
I don't see power as intrinsically good or bad, but this level of concentration of power does make me somewhat uncomfortable.

I think the u.s. has the highest gnp as you said, but japan is second?? I am not to sure i will have to check on it, but yeah this is actually pretty suprising. And as most people, countries, think, money is power.
Im really suprised on 25 percent higher because japan should have a pretty good gnp theirself, or something other than a gnp. Don't know too much about it. But was very interesting.

JMO

disclaimer... lol.

I know.

It is not the concentration of power as such that bothers me, but the people that control it.

I like you Stew, make no claim to be an expert, and expected to find some of the Japanese numbers closer to, or even exceeding, our own.

likewise bro, no need to be an expert. Just really good input here. I was interested in this thread and still am googling trying to find out japan's cuz your def right with the u.s. being number one, but japan has got to be nippin on our heals you know?