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By bandstand124 on 9/24/2008 10:04:07 AM , Rating: 4
Actually, in 2007 USA ranked the 8th richest country in the world by GDP per person. If you treat it as a trade group it comes 2nd to the EU in a lot of estimates .

I don't really know what you mean by "most powerful".

Diplomatically, the USA has lost a lot of it's influence in recent years. Ditto for political and cultural power. It most definitely would have been top dog at some point.

Maybe military power, though how do you measure that? Ability to replace munitions?, population at "fighting age"?, number of nukes?

I agree with you, however, that crap tv and magazines doesn't suggest anything. Smart people read and watch dumb stuff all the time.

By Oregonian2 on 9/24/2008 1:15:19 PM , Rating: 2
How's the ranking as just a country (not per capita, not as a "trade group", not for all those younger than 12, etc)?

RE: I wouldn't limit this conclusion to just pop-ups
By jajig on 9/24/2008 1:44:27 PM , Rating: 2
In 2007 (in millions); #1 USA - $US13 840 000, #2 - Japan $US4 384 000. The US has more than 3 times the GPD of the next richest country.

For power I was referring to the military. Nukes do level the playing field somewhat, but as far as a large, modern, well trained defence forces goes the US is the most powerful.

I would also say the US is very influential from a cultural perspective. Just about everyone in the world watches American TV and movies, so goes for music too.

By lemonadesoda on 9/25/2008 4:51:32 AM , Rating: 2
er, bigger = better, is that your formula? The simplicity of your approach is awesome.

Is Italy equally influential because we all eat pasta and pizza?

