Six maps that will make you rethink the world

Washington Post ^ | April 29, 2016 | Ana Swanson

[lulu16]

"We don’t often question the typical world map that hangs on the walls of classrooms — a patchwork of yellow, pink and green that separates the world into more than 200 nations. But Parag Khanna, a global strategist, says that this map is, essentially, obsolete.

Khanna is the author of the new book “Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization,” in which he argues that the arc of global history is undeniably bending toward integration. Instead of the boundaries that separate sovereign nations, the lines that we should put on our maps are the high-speed railways, broadband cables and shipping routes that connect us, he says. And instead of focusing on nation-states, we should focus on the dozens of mega-cities that house most of the world’s people and economic growth..."

[GraceG]

This map is crap because it will take a hell of a lot more than 4C to melt Antarctica, that continent is frozen solid due to it covering the pole itself due to cutting off the water flow patterns.

also a whole lot of Antarctica is above 4,000ft above sea level which is cooler due to elevation as well.

The only cities we can ever hope to build in Antarctica will HAVE to be built underground where the temperature is more or less stable and above freezing.

Also they don't take into account all the extra water evaporation that will take place due to temp rise which will lead to greener tropics instead of more deserts...

Deserts reign during ICE AGES, because the decrease in temp leads to LESS water for rain in the atmosphere...

[GraceG]

[ There is not a single passenger train which is not subsidized, not a single operation turns a profit. ]

Well that too!

Only is japan does the train SOMEWHAT make sense and that only because the country is THIN and SKINNY and the train can act as a backbone.... when you add another dimension the limits of trains as a viable transport become more apparent...

[rlmorel]

I agree completely, I was being lazy but didn’t think anyone would pick up on it.

I do NOT think there should be no Federal Government, which was the argument in the “Federalist Papers”, and a good one.

I believe there should be a balance between State and Federal government.

These tools who wrote this obviously think the concept of a State government is old and outdated. Everything should be run from a MegaFederal government, in their eyes. It is why they like the idea of the UN and EU.

[notdownwidems]

I moved OUT of the city five years ago. I’m much happier, by an order of magnitude

Amen brother, me too! If I never have to go into a big city again (unlikely, I know) I would be happy. Think about the good places in America, then think of DUMPS like New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Memphis, Atlanta, etc. etc. etc. What do all those places have in common besides being pestilential swamps? Correct, they are all governed by DEMOCRATS, and have been for years. Yes, correlation is not causation, BUT...!

[rlmorel]

The problem isn’t a geographical one, it is a a problem of ideas. Liberal ideas are a cancer, and a visa won’t keep them from infecting somewhere because there is a checkpoint.

States like Texas and Georgia may be more conservative than Massachusetts or California, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the cancer of liberalism growing in them too, because they do.

I know what you mean from a humorous perspective, but even in conservative areas, your next door neighbor may be a flaming liberal. And I am sure my liberal neighbors see my Gadsden flag and hat, and think I am a cancer.

But I know which is which...:)

[EternalVigilance]

Go to one of our major cities, let’s say Los Angeles. Drive around, and ask yourself, what are all these people producing? Retail shops are not a sign of production. They are a sign of consumption. Restaurants are not a sign of production. They are a sign of consumption. Housing is not a sign of production. It is a sign of consumption. Etc.

Most of the folks you see in the cities now are on a government check, one way or another. In other words, all they are producing is debt. More, and more, and more, and more, debt.

[Rockingham]

Unless I am greatly mistaken, Canadians consume much produce from southern California. As you suggest though, Canadians would mostly balk at providing any water toward growing that produce. Perhaps, if Canada does not want to sell any water, we might forbid selling them any produce and bar any importation of Canadian timber.

[Marie]

Fully agree!

[Dr. Sivana]

I think Canadians would not be crazy about your idea.

My wife's family is Canadian. They don't like the idea, either. They like the amount of water they have and would rather live as they are than take a payoff for it. You may as well ask a Kansan to turn in his guns for a farm subsidy.

[Former Proud Canadian]

OMG!!!! No more California iceberg lettuce!!!! Whatever shall we do????

Reduced to eating grubs and maggots, roots and bark throughout the long cold 10 months of winter. We shall surely perish without that green, leafy, crunchy sustenance from California. We are utterly defeated and destroyed.

[Radix]

What a load of crap.

[Rockingham]

For people and countries alike, life is a matter of tradeoffs. Canadians sell oil, gold, and trees and much else for cash, and, on balance, they ought to be willing to sell surplus water as well. Of course, every now and then, the Canadians want to stick it to the US, and denying sales of fresh water may seem an ideal way to do so.

[MeganC]

The only ‘connectography’ I’m worried about is that which connects my rifle with the head of anyone who tries to implement this bull***t.

[Rockingham]

You are putting the entire Canadian diet at risk. Not just lettuce, but all of California’s green, red, and yellow vegetables, with California fruits and nuts also on the line (referring of course to the eatables, not to the crazy people in California). I realize of course that the disappearance of broccoli from Canada’s mealtimes will delight teens and younger, but they do not vote, if you catch my drift. And if Americans want to uncork some more punishment, we can force all that runaway TV and movie production out of Vancouver and back to Hollywood. We could also send the Chicago SWAT team to occupy Ottawa and control the entire country.

[Dr. Sivana]

You are putting the entire Canadian diet at risk. Not just lettuce, but all of California’s green, red, and yellow vegetables, with California fruits and nuts also on the line (referring of course to the eatables, not to the crazy people in California).

Then Canada will sell its surplus Maple Syrup (90% of world's supply) to other countries at a discount, start importing Italian tomatoes, eat grapes ONLY when they are ready from Chile, etc. As long as Tim Bits can be made, and the coffee isn't cut off from South America and Africa, they'll put up with it, just as they did before modern transport.

Actually, the U.S. isn't gonna be the one so hungry for the water. After all, we have access to the Great Lakes as well. If CA had a rational government, all that choo-choo money would go towards desalinization.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I get it, Rock. Ok. Send Mike Meyers back too.

[Rockingham]

Such measures would force the conflict to the ultimate sanction of denying Canadians access to Florida and its winter warmth. I am confident that Canadian capitulation would soon follow.

[Rockingham]

There is a long-stalled US claim under NAFTA against Canada for rejected a US company’s plan to export water to the US. I suspect that water claim may be put forward as a counter to Canada’s damages claim under NAFTA for the US denial of the Keystone oil pipeline. In the alchemy of legal disputes, water and oil may in fact go together.