John Sheridan, first president of the Interstellar Alliance.

"Terrorism, security, immigration, organised crime, energy, the environment, science, biotechnology and higher education... In all of these areas, and others, we are much stronger and able to deliver what our citizens expect from us as individual nations if we are part of a strong and united Europe."

This is one of the reasons the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades. Not to change the subject of the thread, but the EU clearly recognizes the value of science, while our presidential candidates badmouth it.

submitter: president of Europe

EVERYBODY PANIC?

Makh: John Sheridan, first president of the Interstellar Alliance.

This Yessss

President of Europe? Aside from Napoleon and Hitler, you mean.

Man, Gordon Brown would shiat his pants if this happened.

...and it was just recently announced that he had converted to Catholicism.

Oh dear, this will make the End Times speculators practically apoplectic in their rantings.

Shvetz: "Terrorism, security, immigration, organised crime, energy, the environment, science, biotechnology and higher education... In all of these areas, and others, we are much stronger and able to deliver what our citizens expect from us as individual nations if we are part of a strong and united Europe."

This is one of the reasons the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades. Not to change the subject of the thread, but the EU clearly recognizes the value of science, while our presidential candidates badmouth it.

EVERYTHING about our public school system has sucked for the last 20 years. Ever since teachers stopped teaching their subjects and became 'empowerers' , making sure no-one felt 'left-out' or had their self-esteem suffer just because they couldn't add up 2+2 without looking at their fingers. In high school.

No fscking way. No way. This son of a biatch, no fskcing way. No way.

Shvetz: the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades

You're delusional. The EU is going down the tubes.

thamike: Shvetz: the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades

You're delusional. The EU is going down the tubes.

You're delusional. The EU will become more powerful than any nation-state in the history of the world, if it hasn't already done so.

Currency, trade agreements, international cooperation (between member states and others), educational system, health care system, world opinion, etc etc....they're all better compared to the US.

TheGreyPiper

EVERYTHING about our public school system has sucked for the last 20 years. Ever since teachers stopped teaching their subjects and became 'empowerers' , making sure no-one felt 'left-out' or had their self-esteem suffer just because they couldn't add up 2+2 without looking at their fingers. In high school.

I'm sure things like decreased funding, politicization of curriculum, and an unnecessary focus on standardized testing might have something to do with it, too. The fact that many US politicians are openly trying to make the public school system fail might also matter.

I had no idea the EU was looking for a president, but if they're looking at Blair, please look harder.

\bargled: You're delusional. The EU will become more powerful than any nation-state in the history of the world, if it hasn't already done so.

You're on. It's going to pop. Soon. Not Europe, mind you. But the EU as we now know it.

bargled: thamike: Shvetz: the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades

You're delusional. The EU is going down the tubes.

You're delusional. The EU will become more powerful than any nation-state in the history of the world, if it hasn't already done so.

Currency, trade agreements, international cooperation (between member states and others), educational system, health care system, world opinion, etc etc....they're all better compared to the US.

HA! You're both delusional! And poopyheads too!

TheGreyPiper: EVERYTHING about our public school system has sucked for the last 20 years. Ever since teachers stopped teaching their subjects and became 'empowerers' , making sure no-one felt 'left-out' or had their self-esteem suffer just because they couldn't add up 2+2 without looking at their fingers. In high school.

Huh? It's possible that may have SOME effect, but that doesn't occur nearly as much as some sources claim. The real problem is politics and funding. We don't give as much money to schools as other developed nations.

Again, politics is the other problem. Science is a huge part of education, as it also teaches children (at least it should) critical thinking skills. We've abandoned critical thinking skills, because it often conflicts with religion, politics, etc. The parents then perpetuate that nonsense.

For example, Texas is the largest purchaser of textbooks. If they won't buy textbooks with the word "evolution" in them, then publishers drop the subject pretty quickly.

Pity they are looking for a full-time president, the US has a part timer becoming available in a few months.

Wuphon's Dream: Pity they are looking for a full-time president, the US has a part timer becoming available in a few months.

You must hate Europe.

thamike: You're delusional. The EU is going down the tubes.

You're thinking of the dollar.

Wuphon's Dream: Pity they are looking for a full-time president, the US has a part timer becoming available in a few months.

Are you kidding? That freak's going to be on the first chartered plane to his hideaway in Uruguay. No extradition laws.

Speaking in Paris this morning, the former prime minister called for a "strong and united Europe", adding that members fail to deliver what their citizens want when they act as individual nations.

Pot. Kettle. Black, considering that the UK (and Denmark) opted out of transitioning to the Euro.

LincolnLogolas: Pot. Kettle. Black, considering that the UK (and Denmark) opted out of transitioning to the Euro.

A smart move on both their parts.

He's the only one that would get the kind of approval ratings Bush has. In a way, it would make sense to have a Catholic northerner from a euro-sceptic country, with a right-wing agenda coming from a left-wing party. The EU is all about consensus.
But people hate him, so he won't be chosen.

Metaluna Mutant: President of Europe? Aside from Napoleon and Hitler, you mean.

And Tiberius!

bargled: You're delusional. The EU will become more powerful than any nation-state in the history of the world, if it hasn't already done so.

I hate to be pedantic, but the EU will never be a "nation state." It might become a country, a sovereign political entity, but it will remain supranational in character. Much like the United Kingdom is NOT a nation - England, Scotland, and Wales are nations which belong to the political entity known as the UK.

Nation doesn't = country (ie the Basques and Quebecois), and not all countries are based on nations (ie Iraq, Belgium, South Africa, etc.)

/But your actual point is very well-taken. The USA will not, cannot, and must not remain the world's only super power.

bargled: thamike: Shvetz: the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades

You're delusional. The EU is going down the tubes.

You're delusional. The EU will become more powerful than any nation-state in the history of the world, if it hasn't already done so.

Currency, trade agreements, international cooperation (between member states and others), educational system, health care system, world opinion, etc etc....they're all better compared to the US.

The EU is bigger than the US, its population has increased by over 100m since 2000, and it it also outgrowing the US.

But the EU isn't a country. It is more like a franchise. It offers countries an opportunity to take part in the club and it also delivers an incredibly detailed template for running a country.

Part of the strength of the idea is that it is so flexible. The EU is a major exporter of good governance. Countries all over the wolrd are adopting EU style regulations in the areas of banking, pollution control, health and safety regulations, public finances, customs, insurance regulations, judicial procedure and lots and lots more. Adopting them is handy because they are pretty good, and because it helps you do business in what has become the biggest market in the world.

And if you adopt enough, you can join the franchise. A lot of countries are moving that way already, including a lot of Muslim countries. Even places as far afield as India have European norms, eg for car exhausts. In the end, whether they actually join or not is beside the point. The template is spreading.



I don't know what "financially dominate" means, but I do predict the EU will get a lot bigger and more influential in the next couple of decades.

thamike: LincolnLogolas: Pot. Kettle. Black, considering that the UK (and Denmark) opted out of transitioning to the Euro.

A smart move on both their parts.

A pointless move. Their currencies are getting tied closer and closer to the Euro, like the Swiss Franc was to the DMark. Interestingly, even the Fed has been more or less taking orders from the ECB since last July, but that may not last.

Gortex: /But your actual point is very well-taken. The USA will not, cannot, and must not remain the world's only super power.

...but Europe won't ascend to be one, either. Its growth is far too limited to usurp the United States in the manner that India, China or a resurgent Russia might. It's run out of countries to annex. It can no further East, for fear of the Russian bear. The gap between itself and the Chinese and Indians shrinks daily. It is only a matter of time before it, like the United States, is rendered nothing more than a major power amongst many.

I doubt that even if anything like a EU presidency actually becomes reality the post would have any chance of going to someone from Britain. At this point a Luxembourgian candidate would be more likely.

The British can't expect to be a driving force in Europe as long as they refuse to become a part of it. From the Euro to Schengen the British have time and time again proven that they do not want to integrate with the rest of Europe. When it comes to foreign policy they are more 'integrated' with the US than anyone else.

A British leadership without actual british participation in Europe just won't work.

Washington wasn't the first president, he was the first elected president. There were others presiding the position before the first elections were held.

Speaking of elections, what do you people think the outcome of the recount in NH will be like? Will the admit if there was a massive difference, that would effect the outcome, or will they clam up about it and say, 'everythings fine, nothing to see here, move along, citizen...'?

Comrade438: Gortex: /But your actual point is very well-taken. The USA will not, cannot, and must not remain the world's only super power.

...but Europe won't ascend to be one, either. Its growth is far too limited to usurp the United States in the manner that India, China or a resurgent Russia might. It's run out of countries to annex. It can no further East, for fear of the Russian bear. The gap between itself and the Chinese and Indians shrinks daily. It is only a matter of time before it, like the United States, is rendered nothing more than a major power amongst many.

I don't really think that their growth has stopped yet. There is still the Ukraine (70m), Turkey (80m) and the Causasians. I also think they will expand to all the Mediterraenian countries, but that is more dubious.

But of course you are right that they can't keep up with China and India. Even Africa is greatly outgrowing the industrialized countries (North America, Europe and the rich East Asians).

/Africa as a whole has had 6+% growth every year since 1996.

phillydrifter: Washington wasn't the first president, he was the first elected president. There were others presiding the position before the first elections were held.

Who?

What's a Causasian?

Shvetz: "Terrorism, security, immigration, organised crime, energy, the environment, science, biotechnology and higher education... In all of these areas, and others, we are much stronger and able to deliver what our citizens expect from us as individual nations if we are part of a strong and united Europe."

This is one of the reasons the EU is going to dominate the US financially in the coming decades. Not to change the subject of the thread, but the EU clearly recognizes the value of science, while our presidential candidates badmouth it.

it's becoming my opinion that the US is just following the same trends that european nations went through.

a few hundred years after starting to form, they all went through the dark ages. we just have to wait until we hit our renaissance. then we'll see it become much more acceptable to see naked people. so we have that to look forward to i suppose.

ilambiquated: Who?

Google it, cuz I don't feel like doing so, but there were other sitting presidents before Washington was elected.

ilambiquated: Who?

John Hanson. Then there were 7 more afterwards.

...Including Robert E. Lee's grandfather.

In all fairness, though, the other presidents sitting before Washington were probably presidents of the colonies, not presidents of the new independent country after the revolutionary war. But anyway, who cares.

Everyone hypes 1776 as the year our country was founded, but most of the colonies didn't sign the Constitution that year, and I believe the last signature (of the original 13 colonies) was 1884.

Sorry, 1784 not 1884.

europe's not a country, jackass

moothemagiccow: europe's not a country, jackass

Who ever said it was? Does something suddenly have to be a country now to have a President?

/watch where you're pointing that jackass, jackass.

phillydrifter:
Everyone hypes 1776 as the year our country was founded, but most of the colonies didn't sign the Constitution that year, and I believe the last signature (of the original 13 colonies) was 1784.

You're right about one thing...most of the colonies didn't sign the constitution in 1776...

It probably helped that the constitution didn't exist until 1787, and wasn't ratified until mid 1788. If you want the last of the original 13's signing date, it's Rhode Island in 1790, but i guess if you mean the last state ever it would have to be Hawaii in 1959 cause to become a state you pretty much have to sign off on the constitution.

moothemagiccow: europe's not a country, jackass

Flag, currency, borders, parliament, shoddy attempt at constitution.

Covers quite a few bases, doesn't it?

I think you'd have to scour Europe long and hard to find a less popular candidate.

binnster: I think you'd have to scour Europe long and hard to find a less popular candidate.

At least among Jew hating lefties with Bush derangement syndrome.

thamike: What's a Causasian?

Sorry Caucasian

Cornwell: moothemagiccow: europe's not a country, jackass

Flag, currency, borders, parliament, shoddy attempt at constitution.

Covers quite a few bases, doesn't it?

Add Eu Citizenship. The Swiss, however still are isolationists...

Mantour: Cornwell: moothemagiccow: europe's not a country, jackass

Flag, currency, borders, parliament, shoddy attempt at constitution.

Covers quite a few bases, doesn't it?

Add Eu Citizenship. The Swiss, however still are isolationists...

So are we. Which made the EU cut Norway out of the image of Europe on the Euro coin, and Sweden alone looks a little... flaccid.

Cornwell: Mantour: Cornwell: moothemagiccow: europe's not a country, jackass

Flag, currency, borders, parliament, shoddy attempt at constitution.

Covers quite a few bases, doesn't it?

Add Eu Citizenship. The Swiss, however still are isolationists...

So are we. Which made the EU cut Norway out of the image of Europe on the Euro coin, and Sweden alone looks a little... flaccid.

Sweetness. The Swedes are a funny bunch of people. Good call.