[NanoGordeno]

You are correct about the US having the highest absolute level of immigration but on a per capita basis, Canada is #1 with three times the US per capita rate. The feds have announced a new immigration target of 1% of our population yearly within the next two years, a 40% increase from current levels.

Are you (or anyone else) aware of why such high levels of immigration are necessary for our economy? Just curious. It is a rather common but rarely analysed phenomena...

[GillTeepbew]

Come on, canada is basically the north american version of europe.

You obviously don't know Canada very well. Some parts of Canada (the largest and richest urban centers) are certainly becoming increasing like 'north-west Europe', but there are large expanses that are very, very American-like (Alberta in particular).

[DoctorWeryDolt]

Are you (or anyone else) aware of why such high levels of immigration are necessary for our economy? Just curious. It is a rather common but rarely analysed phenomena...

Sure, because our birth rate isn't high enough to maintain the boomer generation in their old age. All developed countries face this problem but it's most dire in Japan and Europe with their limited or non-existant levels of immigration.

[UBJ3kvP1]

Australia is arguable the USA's closest ally, yet it is a daily occurrence here to see broadcast on our media, protests against the USA, the war, etc. When George W Bush visited last year, members of our own Senate stoof and jeered him and turned their backs on him whilst he addressed our Parliament. George W Bush is regarded as a "joke-figure" in Australia ... and this is coming from a country which is a virtual 51st state of the USA.

The USA is becoming more and more isolated in virtual terms. By this I mean how many Americans actually read international news, and so are actually aware of what is going on in the world around them? The USA is a contradiction as it claims to be the land of the free, yet its citizens are among the most sheltered and ignorant of world news, anywhere in the world.

Another factor which leads to isolation is the arrogance. The latest such example is this last week Donald Rumsfeld criticising China, for spending $90 billion this year on defence (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/stor...96174,00.html). This is less than a quarter of what the US spends of defence (In 2003 [prior to the commencement of the war in Iraq], the US defence budget was $417.4 billion, or 46% of the world's total annual spending on defence [Source: http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jd...504_1_n.shtml] ), so what right does the US have to dictate other nations spending? I know people will respond and say things along the lines of "but the US isn't a terror threat", but I would suggest in advance that in the past three years the USA has invaded two separate nations, and not to mention one rather large and important fact - the USA is THE ONLY nation to have ever used a nuclear weapon offensively!!! You cannot argue the facts.

So, after my rambling blurb (apologies), my response to the original question is, yes, the US is increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.

[BarBoss]

Reagan was a moron who ate jelly beans and fell asleep during meetings. I think his Alzheimers was in full bloom during his presidency. He had NOTHING to do with the demise of the Soviet Union.

Reality really sucks for you. don't it?

[JeremyIV]

People keep saying that the US is growing isolated, but is that true? America may have a more negative image than in past years, but I don't think anyone can say we are "isolated".

People need to understand that negative image does not translate into isolation. The US maybe isolated on certain issues such as the war in Iraq, but as a whole I don't think we are as isolated as eurosocialist and bcbailey want so desperately to believe.

The US and Europe have cooperated quite a bit on terrorism as well as other less prominent issues, despite the less than friendly atmosphere between the two right now.

Now to be sure there are issues between the "world" and the US. They range from the economic to terrorism related issues to the environment. But I thinkwe should keep in mind that each nation has its' own agenda and they don;t automatically aline themselves with us or with another block of nations.

All this talk about the "world" being against us is pure rubbish. They may not agree with cewrtain elements of our policy and they may not evne like our culture, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily "against us" or that we are isolated from the rest of the planet. Plenty of countries still regard us in well enough esteem that we can repair the damage done by the BA relatively quickly.

Europe-canada and the Middle East, on the otherhand, are going to be ongoing conflicts. Cultural differences between the US and the those regions are rather large right now.

America as a country isn't "isolated". The Bush administration is.

[ballingham]

America as a country isn't "isolated". The Bush administration is.

You have to love these baseless, non-factual statements. How can you argue with them?

[DoctorTentonyya]

Australia is arguable the USA's closest ally, yet it is a daily occurrence here to see broadcast on our media, protests against the USA, the war, etc. When George W Bush visited last year, members of our own Senate stoof and jeered him and turned their backs on him whilst he addressed our Parliament. George W Bush is regarded as a "joke-figure" in Australia ... and this is coming from a country which is a virtual 51st state of the USA.



The USA is becoming more and more isolated in virtual terms. By this I mean how many Americans actually read international news, and so are actually aware of what is going on in the world around them? The USA is a contradiction as it claims to be the land of the free, yet its citizens are among the most sheltered and ignorant of world news, anywhere in the world.


---How would you know? I think it is ignorant of you to be saying about a population of which you have idea of. Frankly, there is a alot of ignorance about the US. In fact, i think it equals americans ignorance of the world.

You cannot understand the US by watching our TV shows or movies. Nor can you get an idea of the US by reaading your local paper about our FP decisions.

No, in order to understand the US you must engage in conversation with Americans, you must visit the US and not just the big cities. Visit the small towns and states. Take a journey through the country. Only than can you begin to understand the US.


Another factor which leads to isolation is the arrogance. The latest such example is this last week Donald Rumsfeld criticising China, for spending $90 billion this year on defence (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/stor...96174,00.html). This is less than a quarter of what the US spends of defence (In 2003 [prior to the commencement of the war in Iraq], the US defence budget was $417.4 billion, or 46% of the world's total annual spending on defence [Source: http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jd...504_1_n.shtml] ), so what right does the US have to dictate other nations spending?

---Agreed. It is a rather foolish thing to do.

I know people will respond and say things along the lines of "but the US isn't a terror threat", but I would suggest in advance that in the past three years the USA has invaded two separate nations, and not to mention one rather large and important fact - the USA is THE ONLY nation to have ever used a nuclear weapon offensively!!! You cannot argue the facts.


---Let's see Afghanistan HARBORED the terrorists who attacked our country. What is exactly your point here? A nation doesn't have a right to attack a nation that actively supported a force that attacked them? You attack where the enemy is at and that was afghanistan. Bizarre statement on your part.

As for Iraq. This was a nation ruled by a terrorist. It wasn't a good idea to invade, but seeing who it was that was overthrown, I don't think you can draw mcuh sympathy for the former government of Iraq.

As for the nuclear bomb. Well, it was YOUR grandfather who would have had to gone into Japan. A Japan that was still heavily armed and willing to fight to the finish. It's real easy to criticize a decision 60 years after the fact and you not having been impacted by it all. A hypocritical as well as an ignorant statement on your part.

So, after my rambling blurb (apologies), my response to the original question is, yes, the US is increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.

---I disagree. The world and the US are at odds over alot of things, but that does not equal isolation. Those are two totally seperate things. I thnk the world is as divided as ever. Western civilization in general is loathed by alrge parets of the world. Does that mean that they are "isolated"? No.

[buchmausar]

[QUOTE=bcbailey65]Canada is Canada. It's unique. A survey out today (I'll post a separate thread with the link) found that Canada has the number 1 image amongst the world's population when it comes to its system of governance. US was #11. However, Americans opinions of their own country was that they were better than everyone else in every category. We can see this thinking on this very forum.

--You say Canada is better than every other nation as well. DO you not pay attention to waht you right?

Sorry, but jingoism inflicts every country. That isn't a phenomenon of America alone.

And where does this survey of governance comes from?? Would most people even know much about Canada? Canada is not exactly a high profile nationlike France or Britain is? Kind of a strange thing to cite.

[cinggooft]

The general perception of the ugly american has been strongly vindicated lately, but a bad image won't kill americans (except in the middle east, of course )......

You certainly have a strange and malicious sense of humor. Have you personally had encounters with ugly Americans?

[t78VPkdO]

Australia is arguable the USA's closest ally, yet it is a daily occurrence here to see broadcast on our media, protests against the USA, the war, etc. When George W Bush visited last year, members of our own Senate stoof and jeered him and turned their backs on him whilst he addressed our Parliament. George W Bush is regarded as a "joke-figure" in Australia ... and this is coming from a country which is a virtual 51st state of the USA.

The USA is becoming more and more isolated in virtual terms. By this I mean how many Americans actually read international news, and so are actually aware of what is going on in the world around them? The USA is a contradiction as it claims to be the land of the free, yet its citizens are among the most sheltered and ignorant of world news, anywhere in the world.

Another factor which leads to isolation is the arrogance. The latest such example is this last week Donald Rumsfeld criticising China, for spending $90 billion this year on defence (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/stor...96174,00.html). This is less than a quarter of what the US spends of defence (In 2003 [prior to the commencement of the war in Iraq], the US defence budget was $417.4 billion, or 46% of the world's total annual spending on defence [Source: http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jd...504_1_n.shtml] ), so what right does the US have to dictate other nations spending? I know people will respond and say things along the lines of "but the US isn't a terror threat", but I would suggest in advance that in the past three years the USA has invaded two separate nations, and not to mention one rather large and important fact - the USA is THE ONLY nation to have ever used a nuclear weapon offensively!!! You cannot argue the facts.

So, after my rambling blurb (apologies), my response to the original question is, yes, the US is increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.

You claim to have considerable knowledge of us. I assume you have lived here: How long were you here?

[Sandra_18X]

You claim to have considerable knowledge of us. I assume you have lived here: How long were you here?

Where have you lived Tim?...other than the USA?

[Hpdovoxm]

People keep saying that the US is growing isolated, but is that true? America may have a more negative image than in past years, but I don't think anyone can say we are "isolated".

People need to understand that negative image does not translate into isolation. The US maybe isolated on certain issues such as the war in Iraq, but as a whole I don't think we are as isolated as eurosocialist and bcbailey want so desperately to believe.

The US and Europe have cooperated quite a bit on terrorism as well as other less prominent issues, despite the less than friendly atmosphere between the two right now.

Now to be sure there are issues between the "world" and the US. They range from the economic to terrorism related issues to the environment. But I thinkwe should keep in mind that each nation has its' own agenda and they don;t automatically aline themselves with us or with another block of nations.

All this talk about the "world" being against us is pure rubbish. They may not agree with cewrtain elements of our policy and they may not evne like our culture, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily "against us" or that we are isolated from the rest of the planet. Plenty of countries still regard us in well enough esteem that we can repair the damage done by the BA relatively quickly.

Europe-canada and the Middle East, on the otherhand, are going to be ongoing conflicts. Cultural differences between the US and the those regions are rather large right now.

Get real the world is growing smaller!

[kenowinnumberss]

Get real the world is growing smaller!

Why it certainly is

Hello Louis, small world ain't it?