Where do you get your background information on politics?

[Godxilla]

Due to the fact that as time goes on, I'm more and more sure I won't ever choose to live in the US again, I'm also progressively more apathetic toward American politics. That's not to say I don't care, but I'm less likely to actively research stuff. I can only vote for president now (no amendments, no local govts), and my residency vote would have to be in Minnesota, which is the only state that hasn't voted Republican since Nixon (and thus, my vote is entirely useless). I'm also fed up with how extremely divided the US is, and the fighting. Most discussions about American politics are so polarized and venomous, and I've just grown tired of it.

Nowadays, I care a bit about Slovene politics, but not that much because Slovenia is so small. My knowledge of Slovene politics also comes from my friends and students, because I don't speak Slovene.

My biggest political interests these days are regarding the European Union. I've been noticing how little anyone seems to know about it... a lot of people don't seem to know where the central headquarters is... most don't know how the leaders get elected, nor who the leaders even are... and people don't really seem to know what the EU is doing. I think it's different in northern Europe, but most of the world (and much of Europe) has no idea. And that's terrible, because the EU is deepening and widening every year. People know farrrrr more about the US without even living there, but the US isn't the one that's expanding. So most of what I read these days is about the EU. I get my news from various sources - I like to read articles from various countries when possible (they're often in English), bloggers, etc. Information regarding the EU is still biased, but far less polar and aggressive.

Plus, I think it's too late for America. A look at the history of other large empires and unions heavily indicates that the US is reaching the end of its run. The EU, on the other hand, is growing and becoming more and more important. As I'm a globally-minded person, this leads me to be more concerned with the EU.

That's an interesting viewpoint. But why do you think the EU will become more powerful? When I look at the EU, I see England trying to leave, Greece causing monetary collapse, and economic restrictions that kill innovation. Of course, the US isn't on an upward trajectory either. What I see here is a rise of politicians who push for a society more like Europe. And as I discussed earlier, this isn't perhaps a good thing. In the future, China will also see a decline. Soon enough, in my opinion, second-world nations will grow in importance.

By around the time I retire (assuming the age isn't raised; 65 or so), I would not be surprised to see Brazil, India, and Mexico as some of the mightiest nations. Military might will likely be found in China, the US, and Russia, as usual, but like the Soviet Union, military strength will not equal economic stability. Nations like Japan or Greece, with their god-awful economies, will plummet in importance.
However, this all changes if water wars begin. Our population (as a planet) is exploding; we will struggle to keep up. We'll need more water, and like oil, we'll go to foreign nations to get it. Brazil/South America is one area that will suffer if this happens, and rather than become powerful, they will devolve into an Africa-like war zone. Bigger nations with copious land for farming and water for drinking like Canada could become quite important, and such a scenario could keep the US viable for a longer time.

[Llamas]

That's an interesting viewpoint. But why do you think the EU will become more powerful? When I look at the EU, I see England trying to leave, Greece causing monetary collapse, and economic restrictions that kill innovation. Of course, the US isn't on an upward trajectory either. What I see here is a rise of politicians who push for a society more like Europe. And as I discussed earlier, this isn't perhaps a good thing. In the future, China will also see a decline. Soon enough, in my opinion, second-world nations will grow in importance.

I didn't say that the EU is becoming powerful, just that it's getting bigger and bigger. And that could actually be a big problem.

Here's an example of why the EU is important globally - especially to the US:
"The European Union represents a bigger economy even than the United States. If the euro cracks, and euro-holding banks fails, the pain will cross the Atlantic, as the pain of the U.S. crash of 2008 crossed the Atlantic in the opposite direction. European financial institutions may lose the ability to repay U.S. creditors, inflicting more losses on an already traumatized U.S. financial system. Collectively, the eurozone countries are far and away the largest foreign investor in the United States. If the eurozone economies slump, Americans will find it harder to raise capital for new projects and businesses. As a single economy, the EU is America's largest trading partner. If it buys less, American exporters will suffer. This catastrophe could erupt almost literally at any minute. The United States is not helpless to avert this crisis. In fact, the United States could play an important role to avert the crisis, not only with money (although money may be needed), but also by standing with those Europeans willing to run the political risks to address the crisis. But the indispensable first step is to understand the crisis. Many Americans perceive the euro crisis as a crisis of government deficits and government debt. That may have been true of Greece, but it's certainly not true of France, the latest eurozone country to come under pressure in the financial markets. The German public debt is actually slightly larger than the French public debt, yet it is French bonds that the market is selling off."
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/14/op...lem/index.html

Meanwhile, the EU is expanding more and more. Croatia is joining this year, and Turkey is slated to join very soon. Once Turkey is in, the talks will all revolve around getting Russia (a huge feat) and Israel. The EU currently has a significantly larger population than the US (502 million vs 313 million).

However, unlike the US, the economic situation in Europe is starting to improve. GDP growth in the EU is predicted by many economists to begin again this year. http://www.dw.de/eu-happily-closes-t...012/a-16468749

[WebDudette]

I'm lazy and don't generally care, so Buzzfeed and Reddit.

Nah, I listen to a lot of NPR and BBC radio, if something interests me I'll look it up more later on.

[Godxilla]

You made some legit points there, llamas. I appreciate that. I didn't realize that Croatia was allowed in yet, but I think Turkey's entry will be both good and bad. Obviously, it will reach out to the increasing Muslim population in Europe. But on the flip side, Turkey is in a volatile region. Disaster there means disaster for the EU.
Russia will not join. Look at their response to the Magnitsky Act. They like being corrupt, and will not get rid of their corruption to meet EU standards. And how can Israel join the EUROPEAN Union? That would be wrong, and likely fatal to the EU's cred with Muslims.

[Llamas]

Obviously, it will reach out to the increasing Muslim population in Europe.

I think Bosnia is likely to join before Turkey, and therefore the Muslim population would already be appeased.

But on the flip side, Turkey is in a volatile region. Disaster there means disaster for the EU.

True, and there are also concerns about the fact that Turkey *says* they have separation of church and state, but that's pretty hard to believe.

Russia will not join. Look at their response to the Magnitsky Act. They like being corrupt, and will not get rid of their corruption to meet EU standards. And how can Israel join the EUROPEAN Union? That would be wrong, and likely fatal to the EU's cred with Muslims.

Russia is very unlikely to join, but who knows what the EU might do to get them, or what kinds of negotiations could happen. Or where they might direct their attention instead. Israel isn't much less part of Europe than Turkey is (only a tiny portion of Turkey, where Istanbul is, is actually in Europe - the rest is in the middle east), and Israel is part of many European competitions already. There is a lot of talk about them joining. The main point of the EU originally was to make Europe peaceful, and it's worked thus far. I can't see why it couldn't work with Israel, too. Israel could benefit from joining the EU, and the EU would say, you can join if you quit fighting with Palestine and behave yourselves.

[Godxilla]

Oh, yes. Bosnia would appease the Muslims. I wonder if a nation like Kosovo will join soon. After all, both Kosovo and the EU are hated by Serbia and its warlords.
Believe me, I know Turkey has parts in Europe. I'm a geography nerd with a huge atlas, which I consult for fun often. I know. It's odd. But that's me.
Finally, I agree that the EU could help Israel find peace. But just because the EU says that to Israel doesn't mean Palestine will go along. Being a geography nerd and a studyer of wars, I know that Palestine must take blame for plenty of issues. A better idea might be for the EU to forge a 3-state solution in Israel, and invite each state into the union.

[OC HAU]

Turkey and Russia in EU? Doesn't make much sense to me. Are we building a weird empire or something? Strong partnership would be more suitable. Russia is too fucking big and Turkey is rather big with a different religion. Israel and Georgia are additional oddities.

Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova make so much more sense. Iceland and Balkan states for sure. Norway and Switzerland are retarded. :d

My background info on politics is in my brain. :d

[Godxilla]

Turkey and Russia in EU? Doesn't make much sense to me. Are we building a weird empire or something? Strong partnership would be more suitable. Russia is too fucking big and Turkey is rather big with a different religion. Israel and Georgia are additional oddities.

Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova make so much more sense. Iceland and Balkan states for sure. Norway and Switzerland are retarded. :d

My background info on politics is in my brain. :d

Ukraine might make sense if they weren't jailing a former president, subjecting her to beatings and no charges. Belarus and Moldova make more sense. Did you know: Moldova makes the most illegal moonshine per capita in the world! Sounds like a great nation to me.

[OC HAU]

Of course, it will take a time till they sober up.

[Godxilla]

Of course, it will take a time till they sober up.

Maybe you can recommend a hangover helper to get them over it. Y'know, something like a Moldovan Burrito to ease the headaches away.