TO PUT IT BLUNTLY!

AMERICA:

The Dream Machine.

THE PEOPLE IN THE ABOVE CARTOONS ALL PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

How many can you name and ALSO identify their role in the development of the U.S?

Touch the cartoon for identification and enlightenment!

THIS ARTICLE COMES OUT OF A QUESTION MY 17 YEAR OLD GRANDSON ASKED ME ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO:

" Pierre-Pierre, why is the United States the only super-power in the world?"

We were in the car here on Nantucket when he asked me that question and I gave him a short answer which we picked up on when we got back into the house.Herewith my answer, a bit amplified.

Is it land mass?

"United States, officially United States of America, republic (1990 pop. 248,709,873; 1994 est. pop. 260,714,000), 3,618,770 sq mi (9,372,143 sq km), North America.

It is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area.

The U.S. consists of 50 states and a federal district-the site of the capital, WASHINGTON, D.C. It also has numerous outlying island territories and areas. The coterminous (48-state) U.S. extends across central North America from the Atlantic Ocean (E) to the Pacific Ocean (W) and from Canada (N) to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico (S). The state of ALASKA occupies the northwestern part of the continent between the Arctic and Pacific oceans, bounded by Canada (E). The state of HAWAII, an island chain, is situated in the central Pacific, c.2,100 mi (3,400 km) SW of San Francisco. Outlying islands include, in the West Indies, PUERTO RICO (since 1952 a commonwealth associated with the U.S.) and the U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS and, in the Pacific, AMERICAN SAMOA, GUAM, the NORTHERN MARIANAS (since 1986 a commonwealth associated with the U.S.), WAKE ISLAND, and other possessions. The largest state (586,412 sq mi/1,518,807 sq km) is Alaska, and the smallest (1,214 sq mi/3,144 sq km) is RHODE ISLAND. The most populous is CALIFORNIA (1990 pop. 29,760,021). NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, and CHICAGO are the largest U.S. cities."The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright © 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

ANSWER: NO, it is not land mass. Russia is just as large, Canada is just as large and China is just as large. Land mass is critical but it is not unique to the U.S.

Is it population?

"Population, 1991. The U.S. population tops 250 million (par note: now 265 million). China has 1.15 billion, India 850 million, the Soviet Union 293, Poland 39, Japan 125, Bangladesh 116, South Korea 44, North Korea 24, Taiwan 20, Vietnam 68, Indonesia 185.5, Germany (united) 77, France 57, Britain 58, Spain 39.5, Brazil 150, Mexico 88,Canada 26.5, Nigeria 117, Egypt 56, Turkey 56, Iran 53.5, Iraq 17, Israel 5 , Saudi Arabia 15.3."The People's Chronology is licensed from Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Copyright © 1994 by James Trager. All rights reserved.

ANSWER: No, it is not population. The population of China, India and Russia exceed that of the United States.

Is it food production?

Here is a chart from the official "Statistical Abstract of the U.S.":

It is hard to believe but the United States is a major supplier of food to the rest of the world. Did you know that or even consider it as one of our key strengths? I doubt it!

One of the most powerful weapons we have in this arsenal of Democracy (FDR quote) is an incredibly productive, innovative and mechanized agricultural industry which supports (and then some) 265 million Americans with less than 3 million workers (full time)! That means that each farm worker provides enough food to feed about 92 Americans each and ever year!

For interesting and enlightening highlights of the historical and rather surprising development of AGRICULTURE touch here and then 'come on back'!

The enormous and unbelievable productivity of the farming industry has done the following:

  1. Released labor from agriculture to industry and services.
  2. Made the United States totally independent of foreign sources of food.
  3. Provided the people with all the fuel (and then some) they need to work and work very hard.
  4. Created enormous balance of payments surpluses in food exports.
  5. Enabled the United States to supply its allies during periods of war.
  6. Enabled the United States to provide its allies with food during peacetime when we need their support.
  7. Was a showcase for democracy in the food-short communist countries during the past 60 years.
  8. Been a major factor in the fact that U.S. has had less inflation than the rest of the world for the past 60 years.
  9. Freed up consumers money to be spent on other goods and services!
  10. The following chart shows how low prices are in the U.S.A.. We are fourth from the BOTTOM of the list (see right hand of chart). Switzerland and Japan are the highest!

 

OK, that's enough for now! There are going to be more parts but if you want to continue on without stopping (I admire you for patience/perseverance) then just touch America2!

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