European Tribune - Comments - Sweden Rules the EU

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

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?

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

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.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

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.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

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.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

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)

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