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Question #1: Which has the greater population?

A - Canada
B - Australia
C - State of California

Question #2: Which has the greater GDP?

A - Canada
B - Australia
C - State of California

Question #3: Which has the bigger military?

A - Canada
B - Australia
C - State of California

UPDATE: Yes, It's California. California now surpasses Canada and Australia in Population ( California Population - 38 million, Canada 33 million and Australia with 21 million) and GDP.( Australia 718 billion, Canada 1.1 trillion and California $1.7 trillion) California also has more military strengh as measured in manpower and budget. The one area that both Australia and Canada have more military presence than California is the sea. Both Canada and Australia maintain Naval craft, while California has few aside from "Fish and Game" assets.

Why do I bring this up? It's for perspective. People use Canada and Australia as examples of "What the US should be more like" in terms of foreign policy and health policy as if they were all equivalent. But to understand this idea properly, you have to understand the size of the countries involved. Most people tend to think of Canada or Australia as "Big" countries that are in some way equivalent or at a peer level with the United States in terms of population and economic size. The truth is both of those examples are best thought of in terms of being more like another California rather than a peer to the entire United States.

Everyone should understand that I have a great affinity for both of those countries and am part Canadian myself so its not that I'm trying to say that these countries are good or great, its just a size comparison Im attempting to make. Canada and Canadians - great place, great country, great people. Australia - great place, great country great people.

They just arent as big as you would think.

Posted @ December 19, 2007 07:08 PM | Current Affairs

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Not sure about the militaries, but I know California's population is a little larger than Canada's, and much larger than Australia's. I am pretty sure CA's GDP is greater than the other two. So, I'm going to guess that all 3 are California.

Posted by: DBrooks at December 19, 2007 08:21 PM

Astronaut Sunita Williams Pics that have been circulating the net for quite some time now, shows exactly what you are saying. Just look at the lights on each continent at night. Been busy Frank, just now am catching up on your posts. Finished working on Ed Harris's new film 'APPALOOSA'. I think you may like it. 2008 release. My part was completed in 2007. Blogged it on daflikkers.blogspot

Posted by: Blogengeezer at January 5, 2008 01:11 PM