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The EU: A threat to the US?

Would a federated EU threaten the US?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 18.2%
  • No

    Votes: 14 63.6%
  • Other (explain)

    Votes: 4 18.2%

  • Total voters
    22

kaya'08

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BBC News - EU and US: President roles compared

Look at this EU/ US comparison.

European Union:
Population: 490 million
GDP: $18.7tn

United States:
Population: 304 million
GDP: $14.9tn

If the EU really does have the intention of creating a federated European Republic, do you think the current developments which are carrying the EU into that direction actually threaten the US's position as a global superpower and world dominator?

Could such a large power, with any future European military combination which will surely outweigh any American force, be a threat to the Americans, and signal major deteriorations in relations regarding Europe's increasing power and maybe some trade conflicts to add to the mixture? It is afterall, at America's door.

Maybe this is the beginning of the end of US dominance in the West.

I personally dont believe the EU will ever federate; you cant do such a thing against the will of the people by fooling Europeans with elitist tactics.
But HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, what's your views from a rational perspective?

Would a federated Europe threaten America?
 
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A federated Europe is the pipe dream of radicals and is not gonna happen any time soon. There is a bigger chance of the US becoming a Christian Republic.

As for the EU being a treat to the US.. of course it is, just as China, India and Brazil are. Anyone who meets the US on economic, political, militarily and technology wise is a "threat" to the US or will be seen as such by certain aspects of American life. For them competition is everything and they need to be nr. 1 at everything even if it means making stuff up. We have them in Europe too btw and they are just as nuts here.

For some people it is a race of being biggest and best regardless, and in that way it is a "threat".

But Europe will not replace the US as the "motor" of the world economy simply because Europeans dont spend like Americans and never will. So in that aspect, places like India and China are a far bigger threat since their spending power is relatively low and increasing fast. On top of that, I suspect American's will consume less than they did the last decade simply because of the economic realities.

Militarily.. nope, since Europe does not spend any where near the US and I dont see us doing so in the near future. Again China and India are bigger threats.

Politically.. well that is another matter. Due to our size, number of people and our economic muscle (GDP wise) then yes we are a "threat" to the US since the US is now the second biggest economy in the World after the EU. However again here we have to be realistic. The low value of the dollar has a bit of blame, and the economic crisis also has a large portion of the blame. The economic downturn in the US has been far far worse (relative speaking) than in the EU, and hence the overall GDP has fallen /not risen as much as the EU, hence expanding the difference.

Plus the most important reason is the 200 million more people generating more GDP than in the US. If any comparison should be done then it should be per capita, and then the US would still be nr 1 when compared to the EU as a whole. However taking single European countries per capita then the US would not be nr. 1 again. So in the very small world of those who actually care about it, then yes Europe is a threat to the US position on international rankings.
 
Yes. Be afraid, be very afraid. The French are going to lash out on Americans:mad:
 
For them competition is everything and they need to be nr. 1 at everything even if it means making stuff up. We have them in Europe too btw and they are just as nuts here.

For some people it is a race of being biggest and best regardless, and in that way it is a "threat".

Thats not the way of Americans, it is the way of the Superpower. Anybody who could match them in economic or military might is a threat. Its national/political instinct. :shrug:

But Europe will not replace the US as the "motor" of the world economy simply because Europeans dont spend like Americans and never will. So in that aspect, places like India and China are a far bigger threat since their spending power is relatively low and increasing fast. On top of that, I suspect American's will consume less than they did the last decade simply because of the economic realities.

Only the future can tell, i would never rule out a hypothetical Federal Europe in the future as a motor of the world, and neither should you. Its more than possible.

Militarily.. nope, since Europe does not spend any where near the US and I dont see us doing so in the near future. Again China and India are bigger threats.

Even with the combined force of the European forces?

However taking single European countries per capita then the US would not be nr. 1 again. So in the very small world of those who actually care about it, then yes Europe is a threat to the US position on international rankings.

If you say so, but regardless its a political reality that, unfortunately for some, must be addressed sooner or later.
 
Thats not the way of Americans, it is the way of the Superpower. Anybody who could match them in economic or military might is a threat. Its national/political instinct. :shrug:

That's not true. We'd blast Iran back to the 14th century B.C. on a military v. military fight. Economically they're not worth a cent of our economy. However have any discussion of a nuclear Iran and you'll find most Americans agree on one thing. If Iran does have them, they're a threat to U.S. interests and the West as a whole. It doesn't boil down to 'economy and military'. It's a little more complicated than that.
 
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EU a threat to US?

:rofl
Never.
 
EU a threat to US?

:rofl
Never.

What? I bet you have not yet heard of our new advanced weapons! We are now building many of them as we speak: the [ame="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patator"]Patators[/ame]*

Patator.jpg


*Using only non-GM potatos:)
 
That's not true. We'd blast Iran back to the 14th century B.C. on a military v. military fight. Economically they're not worth a cent of our economy. However have any discussion of a nuclear Iran and you'll find most Americans agree on one thing. If Iran does have them, they're a threat to U.S. interests and the West as a whole. It doesn't boil down to 'economy and military'. It's a little more complicated than that.

How is it not true, you just proved my point. Nucleur weapons is related to the military in more ways than one. The US doesnt need another nucleur "competitor" on the world stage, and the problem is exagerated further by their [iran] savage government.
 
How is it not true, you just proved my point. Nucleur weapons is related to the military in more ways than one. The US doesnt need another nucleur "competitor" on the world stage, and the problem is exagerated further by their [iran] savage government.

Not really. Read what you said 'anybody who could match us'. Iran doesn't have any military power to speak of. They have a single card and we don't even really know just what that card is or if they even really have it. However their intentions if they had said card are obvious. A military power has a navy, airforce and army. What does Iran have? China is a military power, The soviets were a military power, Germany was a military power. Iran is not a threat because they could invade or attack any country. They are a threat because of intention and what little we actually know about their capabilities.

How many countries do trade nuclear technology with? Officially and unofficially? The Pakistanis, the Indians, the Saudis and that is just the ones that the average American citizen knows about. We probably do business with a lot more people but don't publicize it. Yet who wouldn't argue that all this very trade in technology would threaten the U.S. if the radical factions in just a single one of these countries took over? No. My assertion is right. It doesn't boil down to 'economic and military power' it boils down to a myriad of factors that are a lot more complex than the general issues you present them as.

Iran's threat comes as a result of bluffing and religious extremism. Not because they could possibly match us militarily or economically. That's what China is for.
 
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Yes, it's going to be the French Century...
 
Not really. Read what you said 'anybody who could match us'. Iran doesn't have any military power to speak of. They have a single card and we don't even really know just what that card is or if they even really have it. However their intentions if they had said card are obvious. A military power has a navy, airforce and army. What does Iran have? China is a military power, The soviets were a military power, Germany was a military power. Iran is not a threat because they could invade or attack any country. They are a threat because of intention and what little we actually know about their capabilities.

But not just what they could match you in. The fact that they have entered this area of weaponary is a threat to the US, full stop, because it could prompt an arms race in the region which could end up with someone matching up with the nucleur might of America somewhere down the line. It threatens the American dominance and undermines their legitemacy in the region if another country formulates weaponary which could cause destruction to the US at unprecendeted levels.

Of course, thats not the only reason behind why the US is against their building of nucleur arms, its the agenda behind it too which is cause for concern.

How many countries do trade nuclear technology with? Officially and unofficially? The Pakistanis, the Indians, the Saudis and that is just the ones that the average American citizen knows about. We probably do business with a lot more people but don't publicize it. Yet who wouldn't argue that all this very trade in technology would threaten the U.S. if the radical factions in just a single one of these countries took over? No. My assertion is right. It doesn't boil down to 'economic and military power' it boils down to a myriad of factors that are a lot more complex than the general issues you present them as.

I didnt say they boiled down simply to these factors in the first place. The myriad of issues you speak of, however, are a branch of these two main (but not sole) factors. The nucleur arms of Iran; Militarialistic aswell as foriegn policy. But my point is, whatever the intention (which isnt usually the case with other factors), a power matching up to the economic might or military might of a dominating superpower is certainly going to threaten them, be it because they feel their dominance is in threat of declining, or is in question, or for whatever other reason.
 
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Thats not the way of Americans, it is the way of the Superpower. Anybody who could match them in economic or military might is a threat. Its national/political instinct. :shrug:

Do you mean do what the Russians are doing? Build awesome weaponry but don't have the money to posses more than 5 of them? If that is the case then the EU wouldn't stand a chance with the US military. Our military is a lot more advanced with the crappy B-2 bomber and B- 52 and F-15. We are fully capable of taking on the whole world at the same time, it's just that scary, and that's not taking into consideration of all the black projects that are being worked on and perfected. The world stands no chance in a guerrila/convential warfare with the US. In order to beat the US militarily you'd have to be very dedicated or the people of the US wouldn't not want to fight anymore because its too costly.
Socially, well who cares if the Europeans are more advanced "socially"? The whole idea of the US is that we are a country big enough to have our own living space. So while one region might be bible-thumpers the next one to it might be filled with homosexuals getting married and then the region next to it might be filled with wall st. greedy types, etc etc.
The US has an abundance of natural resources and we are not only capable of producing enough food to feed 3xs our population but we are capable of producing a war machine capable of defeating the world at the same time. It's amazing how far we are that we are capable of doing so much on our own. And if we really wanted to we could be energy independent for a long time, the EU can't say that.
The EU isn't a threat to the US. They stand no chance whatsoever.
 
This is quite counter-productive.

  • The EU doesn't stand a chance of consolidating it's foreign policy
  • The EU has very little military and little appetite to actually use it - see Afghanistan
  • The EU economy can rival the US and we welcome it - globalization needs more than one foundation
  • We are not competitors outside of the economic realm
 
The EU is comprised of former feuding "siblings" and will be a long time growing into their potential economic power.

The only real threat to the US is its own people who care far more about their own current interests than the success of future generations.

Selfishness reigns supreme....:(
 
BBC News - EU and US: President roles compared

Look at this EU/ US comparison.

European Union:
Population: 490 million
GDP: $18.7tn

United States:
Population: 304 million
GDP: $14.9tn

If the EU really does have the intention of creating a federated European Republic, do you think the current developments which are carrying the EU into that direction actually threaten the US's position as a global superpower and world dominator?

Could such a large power, with any future European military combination which will surely outweigh any American force, be a threat to the Americans, and signal major deteriorations in relations regarding Europe's increasing power and maybe some trade conflicts to add to the mixture? It is afterall, at America's door.

Maybe this is the beginning of the end of US dominance in the West.

I personally dont believe the EU will ever federate; you cant do such a thing against the will of the people by fooling Europeans with elitist tactics.
But HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, what's your views from a rational perspective?

Would a federated Europe threaten America?

You dont think the EU will become a federation? Eventually it probably will no matter what. Ever closer union is the stated goal. But it will not be like any past or current federations, it will be a brand new creation. A superdiverse version of a political mix of communism and liberal democracy with federal, national, regional and local levels of governance.

Hopefully we will not be as dumb as all the rest and have a president in power.
 
A federated Europe is the pipe dream of radicals and is not gonna happen any time soon. There is a bigger chance of the US becoming a Christian Republic.

Never say never. About the Christian republic a mean. :lol:

But Europe will not replace the US as the "motor" of the world economy simply because Europeans dont spend like Americans and never will.

Wrong & wrong. Europe is an engine of the global economy. The US might be the gazoline. None work without the other. Anywas, European consumption is average 55% of GDP while US is 70%. It only means that American goods are mostly consumed in America, while Europeans export more.
Europe is also the worlds biggest trader, in exported and imported goods, except to Canada and Mexico.
The American and European economies are both service based these days while Europe have notably more industry and agriculture as part of their GDP. That might not be unhealthy. Both Europe and the US are the worlds largest food producers and sources of clean water.

America is the oil perhaps, in the fact they use most energy in the world, but then again, Europe is by far more effective in using their energy(which in my opinion is better). Energy consumption per gdp is interesting.

Anyways. China is also also part of the engine now, and we must not rule out Japan, in which a world without could not technically function well.


Militarily.. nope, since Europe does not spend any where near the US and I dont see us doing so in the near future. Again China and India are bigger threats.

European military spending is HUGE. 200 so billion a year. I dont know if that is Euro or dollars, but no matter, and it will likely become more effective, and probably bigger with the European defense cooperation.



Plus the most important reason is the 200 million more people generating more GDP than in the US. If any comparison should be done then it should be per capita, and then the US would still be nr 1 when compared to the EU as a whole. However taking single European countries per capita then the US would not be nr. 1 again. So in the very small world of those who actually care about it, then yes Europe is a threat to the US position on international rankings.

We have been catching up fast however in nominal GDP with the weak dollar. French GDP per person is now higher than US GDP, yes. 2009 IMF numbers. ANd with the US mismanaging of the economy and likely inflation as a result, our purchasing power is catching up quickly as well.
 
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The EU is a much bigger threat to Europe than it could ever be against America.
 
They would be their number one ally, as they have been since WO2. Americans and Europeans are too much alike, share too many interests. They'll find eachother on the negotiating table where they will have to deal with all the other moronic governments in the world.
 
This is quite counter-productive.

  • The EU doesn't stand a chance of consolidating it's foreign policy
  • The EU has very little military and little appetite to actually use it - see Afghanistan
  • The EU economy can rival the US and we welcome it - globalization needs more than one foundation
  • We are not competitors outside of the economic realm

Really?

EU has one number for foreign policy
http://euobserver.com/9/29026

Really?

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Security_and_Defence_Policy[/ame]
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlegroup_of_the_European_Union[/ame]
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_interventions_of_the_European_Union[/ame]

Really?
China is a third. We need more.

Really?
I think we are more cooperating on economic policy than competing.


The EU ever closing Union is moving in record pace, the development is scarily fast these days, which is why so many people are sceptical.
 
EU a threat to US?

:rofl
Never.

Not any more than Germany and Japan were in the 1930s..:spin:
But, what kind of threat?
If extremists ever take over in ANY nation....:( so we must be ever vigilant.
And, primarily, we must learn how to do this. Thirteen American GIs, from the most recent attack, must have some input..
 
Maximus Zeebra to all your posts: you keep dreaming my catholic buddy ;)
 
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