European Tribune - Comments - Sweden Rules the EU

Sweden Rules the EU | 39 comments (39 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

a small country

Surely not by land area...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 06:59:15 AM EST

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (4.00 / 2)

The EU is firstly, an economic union - definable by measures such as GDP, secondly a polity - definable by population/electorate, and only thirdly a geographical entity - definable by land mass. Discuss.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 07:14:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 0)

What does that have to do with Sweden?

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 07:23:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

Someone defined Sweden as a small country in the context of the EU. You challenged that on the basis of its land mass. My argument is that the EU and its member states are not defined, primarily, by their land mass.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 07:39:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

If in the context of the EU, then in the context of the EU Council and the European Council. Therein, population matters first and foremost (vote weights being a function of them), not GDP.

Still, my original comment was not a serious one... just a reaction to the conflicting images in my head when I read the phrase.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 07:45:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (4.00 / 2)

I think of Swedes as big tall blonds myself, and as a polity, Sweden has had a larger frontprint on world politics than you might expect for its population size. A pity they seem intent on doing much of that good work... Even a great company like SAAB was taken over by GM, and now by Koenigsegg... yuk

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 07:56:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

When I read "country", I usually think of some coloured or contoured area on a map -- even though, indeed, those contours have more to do with the Homo sapiens sapiens specimen spending most of their time within that area. (Then again, those borders get their existence not from the people, but certain institutions -- which may or may not represent most of the inhabitants.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 10:27:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

On that basis Denmark (inc. Greenland) makes up half the land mass of the EU, and much more based on the the Mercator projection on which many maps are based!

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 10:40:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 0)

This is sure an oddity, but Greenland is part of Denmark but not part of the EU. (So, would it be included, Denmark would be a third by land area.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:22:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

A self-ruling part since June 21, 2009.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:57:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sweden Rules the EU (none / 1)

Soon to be the state of Greenland, USA. Many, many recreational vehicles will have to visit there in order to update their "visited all states" bumper stickers. Go into the trans-Atlantic car ferry business ASAP.

by asdf on Thu Jul 2nd, 2009 at 07:49:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sweden Rules the EU | 39 comments (39 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

. Home
. About
. Contact
. New User Guide
. FAQ
. ET Editorial Guidelines
. Search
. Search (Google)

Username:
Password:

. Make a new account
. Reset password

Recommended Diaries

Wilders' Ideology
by Nomad - Mar 21
9 comments

Will Bloggers Rescue the Lehman Story?
by danps - Mar 20
2 comments

Getting to know van Rompuy
by Sven Triloqvist - Mar 20
1 comment

Gas, Oil and the Central Oil Bank of Saudi Arabia
by ChrisCook - Mar 20
4 comments

Israel censors Universal Declaration of Human Rights
by shergald - Mar 21

Early Friday Photography Blog #131.
by LEP - Mar 20
51 comments

LQD: Gays blamed for Srebrenica Massacre
by Frank Schnittger - Mar 19
10 comments

It's ok not to report crimes if you're a priest
by Frank Schnittger - Mar 15
130 comments

Recent Diaries

Sunday Train: Heritage Opposes Freedom to Choose High Speed...
by BruceMcF - Mar 21
2 comments

Wilders' Ideology
by Nomad - Mar 21
9 comments

Israel censors Universal Declaration of Human Rights
by shergald - Mar 21

so.. what comes in America after the HCR vote...and how will...
by johnfire - Mar 21
12 comments

A map for the future
by Sven Triloqvist - Mar 21
2 comments

Getting to know van Rompuy
by Sven Triloqvist - Mar 20
1 comment

Gas, Oil and the Central Oil Bank of Saudi Arabia
by ChrisCook - Mar 20
4 comments

Will Bloggers Rescue the Lehman Story?
by danps - Mar 20
2 comments

Early Friday Photography Blog #131.
by LEP - Mar 20
51 comments

Meet Shayna Bailey, Slow Food International
by borderjumpers - Mar 20

LQD: Gays blamed for Srebrenica Massacre
by Frank Schnittger - Mar 19
10 comments

Getting Water to Crops
by borderjumpers - Mar 19
3 comments

LQD: Sovereign Equity (2) : Why Conventional Economics Is...
by ChrisCook - Mar 19
22 comments

US General: Dutch Gays in Military to Blame for Massacre...
by Oui - Mar 19
5 comments

Israel thumbs its nose at Obama, again
by shergald - Mar 18
6 comments

Innovation of the Week: Providing an Agricultural Answer to...
by borderjumpers - Mar 18
6 comments

The "à Paris" family grows
by Jerome a Paris - Mar 18
37 comments

Juan Cole avenges former IDF Corporal Jeffrey Goldberg
by shergald - Mar 17
25 comments

Kucinich abandons left fight against insurance bill
by fairleft - Mar 17
15 comments

1,000 Words About Uganda
by borderjumpers - Mar 17

More Diaries...

Debates

Campaigns

Occasional Series