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Scotland rules France...

bet ya didn't see that coming

More reasons why Argentina is the most important:

Argentina was the first independent nation state in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba is the second oldest university in South America.

Five different Argentines have won the Nobel Prize (for Chemistry, Medicine and Peace)

The city of La Plata was the first in Latin America with electric street illumination.

The Buenos Aires Subway was the first built in the Southern Hemisphere.

The city of Mendoza is one of the eight wine capitals of the world.

Argentines have the highest consumption in the world of red meat.

The first person to be born on the continent of Antarctica was Emilio Palma, an Argentine citizen, at Esperanza Base.

I'd have to go with Cuba. Historically, Cuba has had some of the highest rates of education and literacy in Latin America, both before and after the revolution.
All education is free to Cuban citizens including university education (If only England was like that then i won't come out of Uni with £20,000 debt (about $37,124))

According to the 2000 World Health Organisation report, Cuba had the highest life-expectency in Latin America, and in 2002 was found to have the lowest infant mortality rate in the Americas along with Canada.

The only bad thing i can see from Cuba is the damn US embargos.

At 10/14/06 04:46 PM, neoptolemus wrote: I'd have to go with Cuba.

Sorry, but i said south america

At 10/14/06 04:46 PM, neoptolemus wrote: I'd have to go with Cuba. Historically, Cuba has had some of the highest rates of education and literacy in Latin America, both before and after the revolution.
All education is free to Cuban citizens including university education (If only England was like that then i won't come out of Uni with £20,000 debt (about $37,124))

According to the 2000 World Health Organisation report, Cuba had the highest life-expectency in Latin America, and in 2002 was found to have the lowest infant mortality rate in the Americas along with Canada.

The only bad thing i can see from Cuba is the damn US embargos.

About education, so has Argentina, teachers were imported from the US in the 19th century, (Argentina's golden age) and the first Teacher's school in South America was in La Plata Buenos Aires, which is has been converted to a kindergarden/primary school/high school/teacher's school. I attend to that school and you can see the emphasis in education that was in that times: statues, and theater-like auditory, the stairs are made of marble, etc.
Education is also free in Argentina, from kindergarden to University. Health is mostly free.

And as Pyromaniac said, Cuba is not in South America, but in Central America.

Shit, I totally missed this thread. For the title, I thought it was another one of those "OMG CHINA IS GOIGN 2 B THE NEXT SUPPRPOWER AN WILL KIK USAS BUTT LOLOLLMAOROFL"

Anyway. I'm pretty sure that Brazil has the most economic weight.
I'd say Argentina would be the one with the most developed culture.
Currently, Venezuela is the one driving the car, politically speaking, even though several countries aren't too hot with that.
I'd say Chile is the most politically and economically stable, though.
In matters of standards of living, I *think* that Uruguay has got the leading numbers, but don't quote me on that.

In the other hand, in Brazil there's still a very large part of the population living pretty much in the gutters.
Argentina's economy and political stability went to shit about, uh, what was it, five years ago? Even though Kirschner seems to be doing at least a moderately good job, they're still recovering from that one.
Venezuela is starting to divide the continent in mini-blocs, plus it seems unlikely that its leadership will last any longer than Chávez. Needless to say that you can't pin much stability on a nation that has chosen to depend on the oil prices.
Chile is slowly starting to lose the economic boost it gained in the early 90's. And, once again, a whole country depending largely on the global prices of a single commodity (copper) maybe isn't such a good idea after all.
Uruguay seems... uh, to be doin' just fine. I don't follow Uruguayan contingency all that much, but from what I know, it looks like Tabaré Vásquez follows the continental tendency of "to-the-left-but-not-really-that-much" and it's got the typical corruption and social issues that you find on almost every South-American state. Plus, Uruguay still is "that little thing next to Argentina".

So, in the end each country has its strengths and weaknesses. If these nations could somehow find a way to REALLY complement each other, South America might be up to something.

Although I know very little about South American Geo-Politics, I'm gonna say Brazil, for GDP and others...

No no, you've all got it wrong! The most-important South American country is Suriname, with a whopping GDP purchasing power of $2.818 BILLION dollars *pinky in mouth* bwa hahahaha! Plus it's the smallest S.A. country so... you know... it can move around real fast... it's swift... <.<'

Question, why do we care who the most important nation is in South America.

At 10/15/06 08:54 AM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Question, why do we care who the most important nation is in South America.

Because your mom had sex with all of them and now we're trying to decide which one can be charged with a paternity lawsuit.

<3

At 10/15/06 04:07 AM, Empanado wrote: Anyway. I'm pretty sure that Brazil has the most economic weight.

Yep

I'd say Argentina would be the one with the most developed culture.

Well, that's hard to determine, if you consider that culture is all that the people do.

Currently, Venezuela is the one driving the car, politically speaking, even though several countries aren't too hot with that.

Well, Hugo lkes to talk much, but I'd say that the positions were clear in this meeting of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina, there is the Mercosur block (which Chavez is trying to join), then other countries that haven't got a leader, and then there are Chile and Mexico, the more US friendly, specially Mexico. But chile is a no-strings-attached country, everyone is its friend (exept for specific crazy countries like Bolivia and Venezuela).

I'd say Chile is the most politically and economically stable, though.

Yes, it's true, although it is still raw materials dependant. I'd say that the most successful country in transforming itself from a colony to a industrialised country is Brazil.

In matters of standards of living, I *think* that Uruguay has got the leading numbers, but don't quote me on that.

According to UN, Argentina is still on top, fllowed by Chile, and then Uruguay. http://en.wikipedia..._countries_by_region

In the other hand, in Brazil there's still a very large part of the population living pretty much in the gutters.

Yep.

Argentina's economy and political stability went to shit about, uh, what was it, five years ago? Even though Kirschner seems to be doing at least a moderately good job, they're still recovering from that one.

2002 was our worst year, although the crisis had started in 1999, and was recovering in the late 1999, but our non-existant president decided, strongly advised by the IMF, to raise taxes, and, well , the rest is History. We are fully recovered, thanks to four years now of growing at 9% rates.

Venezuela is starting to divide the continent in mini-blocs, plus it seems unlikely that its leadership will last any longer than Chávez. Needless to say that you can't pin much stability on a nation that has chosen to depend on the oil prices.
Chile is slowly starting to lose the economic boost it gained in the early 90's. And, once again, a whole country depending largely on the global prices of a single commodity (copper) maybe isn't such a good idea after all.

As I said, that's the problem with S. A. countries, they depend on commodities too much. I think Chile is facing its most important problem now, distributing wealth, I read that it is the worst country in SA in that subject, but I have faith in the Chilean gov.

Uruguay seems... uh, to be doin' just fine. I don't follow Uruguayan contingency all that much, but from what I know, it looks like Tabaré Vásquez follows the continental tendency of "to-the-left-but-not-really-that-much" and it's got the typical corruption and social issues that you find on almost every South-American state. Plus, Uruguay still is "that little thing next to Argentina".

Uruguay is fully dependant on Brasil on Argentina. For example, the Urugauyan peso is an average of the Brazilian Real and the Argentine peso. Plus, the zones next to Uruguay of Argentina (Buenos Aires) and in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) are much, much richer than Uruguay. Lots of Urugayans emigrate to Bs As to get a better paid job. It would be more correct to say that Uruguay is "that little thing between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo"

So, in the end each country has its strengths and weaknesses. If these nations could somehow find a way to REALLY complement each other, South America might be up to something.

Not so sure about that, SA is insignificant in territory and population.

Question, why do we care who the most important nation is in South America.

You're sooo American.

At 10/15/06 08:54 AM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Question, why do we care who the most important nation is in South America.

Oh, in case you hadn't noticed

Empanado's habitat : Santiago, Chile.
Pyromaniac-1's habitat : Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Der-Lowe's habitat : La Plata, Argentina

At 10/10/06 05:07 AM, zzzzd wrote: but i'd rather go there an get the shit kicked out of me than go to america an listen to wankers like you big up you shitty country

Then you need to go see a doctar. I mean if you would rather get your ass beat instead of listening to someone bragging there is something wrong with you.

At 10/9/06 10:32 PM, Dash-Underscore-Dash wrote: Woah, woah woah... there's a south America?

Lol.

Is argentinia an brazil spanish the same as spanish spanish, like america an canada is to england, or is it alot different?

At 10/15/06 08:09 PM, zzzzd wrote: Is argentinia an brazil spanish the same as spanish spanish, like america an canada is to england, or is it alot different?

In Argentina and Brazil people talk very differently, specially because in Argentina people speak Spanish, and in Brazil Portuguese is spoken.
Argentina has differences in the language between its citizens, people from Buenos Aires have different accent and some expressions compared to those in the northern part of the country, for example. Argentina's Spanish (like Brazil's Potruguese) uses a different informal singular you than that in Spain ("vos" instead of "tú", whether in Brazil "você" instead of "tu"), and a different plural you ("ustedes" instead of "vosotros"); this different pronouns imply a different conjugation of the verbs.
The differences of the language can be explained by the disconnection between the two cultures, with the independence of the Spanish colonies, for example Argentina received milllions of italian immigrants, that is why some local words in Buenos Aires come from Italian.

So yes, the difference is very significant, not that they won't understand you, but it turn a bit difficult.

At 10/15/06 02:11 PM, Der-Lowe wrote:

At 10/15/06 08:54 AM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

Oh, in case you hadn't noticed

Empanado's habitat : Santiago, Chile.
Pyromaniac-1's habitat : Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Der-Lowe's habitat : La Plata, Argentina

Again, why should we care?

At 10/15/06 10:09 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

At 10/15/06 02:11 PM, Der-Lowe wrote:

At 10/15/06 08:54 AM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

Oh, in case you hadn't noticed

Empanado's habitat : Santiago, Chile.
Pyromaniac-1's habitat : Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Der-Lowe's habitat : La Plata, Argentina

Again, why should we care?

Why should we care about all the bollocks about america posted on these boards, stop being an arrogant cunt

At 10/15/06 10:34 PM, zzzzd wrote:
Why should we care about all the bollocks about america posted on these boards, stop being an arrogant cunt

Because the majority wins.

At 10/15/06 10:09 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Again, why should we care?

Because of people like this is that ALCA fails.

Hey people Stop Bragging ABOUT your Country Ana also stop making comments on wich COUNTRY is Better than the Other we all know USA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
<SINCERLY> YO MAMA

At 10/15/06 10:40 PM, N-G wrote: Hey people Stop Bragging ABOUT your Country Ana also stop making comments on wich COUNTRY is Better than the Other we all know USA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
<SINCERLY> YO MAMA

HAHAHA, yeah, sure.
The europe union kick your americans asses

At 10/15/06 10:40 PM, N-G wrote: Hey people Stop Bragging ABOUT your Country Ana also stop making comments on wich COUNTRY is Better than the Other we all know USA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
<SINCERLY> YO MAMA

I don't know if you are an Alt account, or plainly stupid.

At 10/15/06 08:54 AM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Question, why do we care who the most important nation is in South America.

Because your mom had sex with all of them and now we're trying to decide which one can be charged with a paternity lawsuit.

Again, why should we care?

*sniffle* You mean you don't want to know who your real daddy is?

At 10/15/06 02:09 PM, Der-Lowe wrote: Well, that's hard to determine, if you consider that culture is all that the people do.

I guess you're right. Maybe not like, the most developed culture, as that's way too subjective, but in my opinion it has a lot more influence on neighbouring countries than any other. Not to mention that, for example, it's normally cheaper to take a bus across the Andes, rent a room in a Buenos Aires hostel for a couple of days and buy a book or two in a Buenos Aires bookstore than buying the same two books in a Chilean bookstore.

Well, Hugo lkes to talk much, but I'd say that the positions were clear in this meeting of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina, there is the Mercosur block (which Chavez is trying to join), then other countries that haven't got a leader, and then there are Chile and Mexico, the more US friendly, specially Mexico. But chile is a no-strings-attached country, everyone is its friend (exept for specific crazy countries like Bolivia and Venezuela).

Yes, it's not really like Chávez is the most cunning political strategist out there or anything, but he's the first one in a long time to actually stand up and say "Yo, let's do something together". Wether that "something" is good or bad, you can see that the idea immediately found some followers (Evo in Bolivia, Ollanta Humala in Perú and now this other guy in Ecuador). And since the heavyweights of the region, Argentina and Brazil, don't particularly seem to be having a problem with this, it basically gives Hugo the green light to keep going.
I wouldn't be surprised if this wave of Chavism extends to Central America in a couple of years.

According to UN, Argentina is still on top, fllowed by Chile, and then Uruguay. http://en.wikipedia..._countries_by_region

Ah, my mistake. I'm pretty sure I saw at least one study where they ranked on top, though.

As I said, that's the problem with S. A. countries, they depend on commodities too much. I think Chile is facing its most important problem now, distributing wealth, I read that it is the worst country in SA in that subject, but I have faith in the Chilean gov.

Yes, distribution of wealth. As our third(fourth?)-party candidate pointed out in the presidential debate last year, "It's such an honor to rank in the world ranking of social inequalities next to nations such as Namibia, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh and Tanzania!"
The guy got about 5% of the vote, but he's right. While poverty has been cut down to the half in the last 16 years, there's still a long way to go.

Uruguay is fully dependant on Brasil on Argentina. For example, the Urugauyan peso is an average of the Brazilian Real and the Argentine peso. Plus, the zones next to Uruguay of Argentina (Buenos Aires) and in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) are much, much richer than Uruguay. Lots of Urugayans emigrate to Bs As to get a better paid job. It would be more correct to say that Uruguay is "that little thing between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo"

Hmm. Yes, I guess that's right. After all, I recall reading about Uruguay getting bullied into joining that war in the late 19th century where Paraguay was obliterated. Being caught between two powers is always a compromised situation, I guess.

Not so sure about that, SA is insignificant in territory and population.

Of course, I'm not talking about "ARR LET'S TAKE OVER THE WORLD"-kind of something.
But if you look at the big picture, in a not-so-distant future a stronger bloc of S.A. nations may have a better chance of congeniating with the rest of the so-called Third World than any other superpower that may appear, since they come from similar backgrounds.
I'm just doing crazy talk here, but one way opr another I believe that Latin America should grow closer than the ALCA or the Mercosur. Or the, uh, Conmebol.

I guess you're right. Maybe not like, the most developed culture, as that's way too subjective, but in my opinion it has a lot more influence on neighbouring countries than any other. Not to mention that, for example, it's normally cheaper to take a bus across the Andes, rent a room in a Buenos Aires hostel for a couple of days and buy a book or two in a Buenos Aires bookstore than buying the same two books in a Chilean bookstore.

Well, that's really good for chileans (or every other foreigner) but not for argentinian people that earn their salary in Argentinian Pesos. Me and my family used to go to Brazil on holiday, and I went to London in 2001, and my brother, unfortunately, will have to pay its own travel to London, with the pound 5.50 to 1 in relation to our weak currency :(
Argentina is cheaper in almost every aspect related to Chile, except from electronics. Those free trade treaties you have been signing have paid off I guess.
About the influence, I think that the friendly relationship that Chile is to Argentina as Argentina is to Brazil. The first place Bachelet visited was Argentina, and the first place Kirchner visited was Brazil. We import mainly from Brazil and you from us, we try to block Brazil's goods (like fridges and shoes) and you have recently blocked milk imports from us, correct me if I'm wrong.

I wouldn't be surprised if this wave of Chavism extends to Central America in a couple of years.

There might be some really desperate Central American countries that may go with Chavez, but the USA has are very strong in that region, don't you forget.

According to UN, Argentina is still on top, fllowed by Chile, and then Uruguay. http://en.wikipedia..._countries_by_region

Ah, my mistake. I'm pretty sure I saw at least one study where they ranked on top, though.

I remember there was one ranking of The Economist that ranked Argentina under Brazil, and Ireland first, but IMO it was complete crap. it took too many "happiness" features into account, they actually asked the people what they thought about their country, and took divorce rates into account, I remember.

Yes, distribution of wealth. As our third(fourth?)-party candidate pointed out in the presidential debate last year, "It's such an honor to rank in the world ranking of social inequalities next to nations such as Namibia, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh and Tanzania!"
The guy got about 5% of the vote, but he's right. While poverty has been cut down to the half in the last 16 years, there's still a long way to go.

I see distribution of wealth as a "good" problem. The thing is that Chile has been growing steadily, and some people have grown more than others, lets say. Argentina has a similar problem with Energy now, we have bottlenecks in Gas, Oil, Power, and even in cellphones . Why? Well, from 2002 to 2006, our economy has grown 45%.

Hmm. Yes, I guess that's right. After all, I recall reading about Uruguay getting bullied into joining that war in the late 19th century where Paraguay was obliterated. Being caught between two powers is always a compromised situation, I guess.

Well, the War against Paraguay or the Triple Alliance war started because a political confrontation between two parties in Uruguay (which still exist today, the "Colorado" party, and the "Blanco" one). Paraguay was a very powerful country then, had important industries and a powerful army. As you may guess,Paraguay supported one andt Brazil the other, Brazil "put" its favourite party into power, Paraguay captured the Governor of the Brazilian State Matto Grosso do Sul, and Brazil declared war. In order to invade Urugauay, Paraguay had to cross Argentina, and as usual, Argentina was neutral. Paraguay crossed Argentina nevertheless, and took those territories.
And then the Argentinian army, along with the Brazilian Navy (which was veeery powerful) crushed Paraguay to the ground. Brazilians took a lot of territory, we took a little too , Uruguay got nothing, Paraguay lost 90% of its male population and could never recover.
The lesson is "If you are a South American country, don't mess with Brasil, and specially Brasil+Argentina, because if they get angry, they will completely crush you"
THE END

Of course, I'm not talking about "ARR LET'S TAKE OVER THE WORLD"-kind of something.
But if you look at the big picture, in a not-so-distant future a stronger bloc of S.A. nations may have a better chance of congeniating with the rest of the so-called Third World than any other superpower that may appear, since they come from similar backgrounds.
I'm just doing crazy talk here, but one way opr another I believe that Latin America should grow closer than the ALCA or the Mercosur. Or the, uh, Conmebol.

Like the EU, but with thirld world countries, you mean?

At 10/15/06 10:40 PM, N-G wrote: Hey people Stop Bragging ABOUT your Country Ana also stop making comments on wich COUNTRY is Better than the Other we all know USA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
<SINCERLY> YO MAMA

Is it fuck. All Americans are good for is to find new and imaginative ways to kill each other

At 10/16/06 12:55 PM, the-man-who-knew wrote:

At 10/15/06 10:40 PM, N-G wrote:

Is it fuck. All Americans are good for is to find new and imaginative ways to kill each other

Well isn't it nice to know that millions of your own country men managed to immigrate themselves over a country that only knows how to kill people.

Psh, forget those things like advances in civil liberties, medecine or engineering.

Argentina is 34° in world ranking?

At 10/16/06 12:55 PM, the-man-who-knew wrote: Is it fuck. All Americans are good for is to find new and imaginative ways to kill each other

And that's a bad thing, how?

/sarcasm

But really, we're much better than that. It's not like everyone else doesn't do the same thing at one point or another.

Mercosur can be as much as powerful as the EU?