[PatrickHenry]

Talk about pissing away the greatest opportunity in the world.

Actually, there were other lost opportunities, lots of them, some just as big as China's. The native population was literally here, occupying the place, giving them an enormous headstart on us, but they failed to hold onto what their ancestors had given them. Spain had an empire bigger than that of Ghengis Kahn, and they held it for 300 years, ultimately losing it all and winding up the poorest and most backward country in western Europe. History is full of lost opportunities.

[muawiyah]

The most backward country in Western Europe in terms of.....? It all depends on your criteria. At the moment I'd say the most backward place was the Nederlands. Their mortuary practices are not much advanced beyond that of the Innuit in the old times who used to leave the old folks out on the iceflow for the polar bears.