Do You Want America To Be The Strongest and Richest Nation in the World?

[BC-NanceLee]

I think we come the closest, frankly, of all of them.

I am also well aware that being rich and powerful ALLOWS for more actions in the realms that DO matter to me. But the idea of riches and strength for their own sake, some kind of chest-beating AMERICA RULES! chant, is anathema to me.

[SuzCa]

I keep waffling. Yes, I want us to be the strongest militarily to restrain, intimidate or eradicte evil entitites that want to harm us. I also want us to be stongest, most cohesive bunch of nutballs ever united. I want to have the strongest economy because we are hard working capitalists. I don't know if I want to be the richest. Dubai is rich and they are building the ugliest, glitziest city ever. It looks like Las Vegas on steroids. Also if we have too much money, our politicians and leaders will become even more tempted to do silly things with the citizens money. When our country was started we did it with lots of money, but even more grit.

I want us to be the strongest and grittiest.

[GirlMom]

Yes, I do... but, I also want us to never loose sight of how we GOT to be there in the first place. We have to be compassionate, but we have to also be strong. There are many leaders of other countries that don't care about the good that we do, or the fact that we are ready at the drop of a hat to offer assistance wherever it's needed... They smell weakness and they see themselves as stronger.

[CindiR]

Originally Posted by BC-NanceLee

Not even on my top five.

I do however want America to be the noblest, most generous, most compassionate; the country with the most integrity, and the most respected country in the world.

My idea of respect-worthy has NOTHING to do with riches and strength. It is not how I assign value to a man or to a country.

OMG.....I could not have said it better

[RobinL]

The poll makes it sound like one is either for it or against it. I am not against it. If we are the strongest, richest nation in the world, that's fine with me, but I don't consider it a goal, a by-product maybe, but not a goal that I think is so important.

[Maddy00]

Yes to both. Being strong (financially, militarily, for instance) are what enable us to contain and deal with the likes of Ahmadinajad and Kim Ill Jong without having any sort of actual armed conflict. Force and strength are what keep the peace. When you bring that sort of power to the table; allies, negotiating power, and the ability to be part of keeping global peace is a given.

Being rich helps to do all of the above and it is what has enabled us to give, give, and give some more when disasters strike, or epidemics hit, or famines occur.

And if we were both again, I WOULD want to beat my chest (figuratively ) and be proud of our country and our democracy and our place in keeping this world safe. Why people are ashamed or want to downplay that is beyond me but to each his/her own.

[Desca]

Originally Posted by intheknow

Maybe this poll should be for Americans only. If I were Canadian, I would want Canada to be the richest and most powerful country in the world. But I'm not Canadian.

Well, I'm Canadian and I don't necessarily want Canada to be the richest and most powerful country. I guess mostly because it's impossible - we barely have the population of a large city or two in the U.S. But do I want my country to be strong? Absolutely - in the sense of respect from other countries and pride in as strong a military force as we can have. Rich? Yes, in the sense that our currency has value and that we are not in debt or running continual deficits.

So is it okay for the U.s. to be strong and rich - even if not the strongest and richest?

(I didn't vote - the poll is not for me.)

[BC-tinatinva]

I answered yes. I think we should strive to be this. Not for power's sake but for the good that can be done in the world and at home as a result of it.

[BC-Maura]

Originally Posted by Lesley

How would I define it? Not my poll, so I don't think that matters. But I'm will to participate if I know what it is you are asking.

I suppose you could define it as having the most military personnel per 1000 population.

The nation that has won the most armed conflicts?

You could mean that the US has the healthiest, strongest, long lived population.

You could even mean in the one of the purest senses that weightlifting becomes a mandated exercise for all citizens?

You could mean that all other nations would cower and fear the US. In other words the US would be the international bully.

I suppose you could mean economically, the most healthy robust economy with exports far outweighing imports and 0% unemployment.

The entire nation of one mind politically and philosophically?

The least number of people going hungry or living below poverty levels?

I really don't know what you mean by strongest.

I don't either and I don't know what is meant by "richest."

+++++++++++++
Maura

[BC-tinatinva]

As with most polls.. the response is subject to the responders interpretation.