I considered moving out of the USA.
After some research, I realized leaving is stupid.
There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower.
And the best country for opportunity.
The reason surprised me:
β¬οΈ
After some research, I realized leaving is stupid.
There is no chance the USA will stop being the global superpower.
And the best country for opportunity.
The reason surprised me:
β¬οΈ
First, the usual arguments for optimism about USA are:
β’ democracy
β’ the rule of law
β’ the US Dollar
β’ aircraft carriers (i.e., strongest military)
β’ immigration
β’ entrepreneurial culture
β’ and many more.
But...
β’ democracy
β’ the rule of law
β’ the US Dollar
β’ aircraft carriers (i.e., strongest military)
β’ immigration
β’ entrepreneurial culture
β’ and many more.
But...
But thereβs something more important than all thoseβ¦
Geography.
A magical combination of geography favors the USA over all others.
It's no surprise the USA keeps winning.
The USA is the only economy to grow every decade for 150 years.
Here is how the US is so gifted:
Geography.
A magical combination of geography favors the USA over all others.
It's no surprise the USA keeps winning.
The USA is the only economy to grow every decade for 150 years.
Here is how the US is so gifted:
1) Mississippi River System
Largest naturally navigable waterway in the world by far.
You can sail from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota.
And transportation by water is 10x-30x cheaper.
So US goods get an unfair advantage.
Inland places like Pittsburg have clear ocean access!
Largest naturally navigable waterway in the world by far.
You can sail from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota.
And transportation by water is 10x-30x cheaper.
So US goods get an unfair advantage.
Inland places like Pittsburg have clear ocean access!
2) Prime Farmland
The world's biggest contiguous Prime Farmland overlays our Mississippi River system.
An unbeatable 1-2 punch.
The USA can deliver more food cheaply to markets than any other.
The USA exports 2x more food than the #2 country, Germany.
The world's biggest contiguous Prime Farmland overlays our Mississippi River system.
An unbeatable 1-2 punch.
The USA can deliver more food cheaply to markets than any other.
The USA exports 2x more food than the #2 country, Germany.
3) Great Lakes
But wait, there's more.
The US has the largest freshwater lake system in the world.
They are now all connected to the Mississippi at Chicago.
And to the Atlantic.
Dozens of major inland US cities are virtual seaports!
US goods again get a permanent advantage.
But wait, there's more.
The US has the largest freshwater lake system in the world.
They are now all connected to the Mississippi at Chicago.
And to the Atlantic.
Dozens of major inland US cities are virtual seaports!
US goods again get a permanent advantage.
4) Barrier Islands
The Mississippi connects with a unique Barrier Island system.
This creates a βvirtualβ coastal river with calm navigable water.
From Texas to Rhode Island by more low cost-water transport.
Again American goods get to market cheaper.
The Mississippi connects with a unique Barrier Island system.
This creates a βvirtualβ coastal river with calm navigable water.
From Texas to Rhode Island by more low cost-water transport.
Again American goods get to market cheaper.
5) Size
The USA is the 4th largest country by Area.
Big enough to have scale on a global market.
China, Russia, and Canada are bigger.
The difference is the quality of the land.
Much of Canada, Russia, and China are unproductive.
The USA is the 4th largest country by Area.
Big enough to have scale on a global market.
China, Russia, and Canada are bigger.
The difference is the quality of the land.
Much of Canada, Russia, and China are unproductive.
6) Energy Reserves and Production
The USA is gifted with domestic energy resources.
Oil:
β’#1 producer
β’#11 in reserves
Natural Gas:
β’#1 in producer
β’#4 in reserves
... plus wind and solar.
Nearby and plentiful energy, American production is more effective (again)!
The USA is gifted with domestic energy resources.
Oil:
β’#1 producer
β’#11 in reserves
Natural Gas:
β’#1 in producer
β’#4 in reserves
... plus wind and solar.
Nearby and plentiful energy, American production is more effective (again)!
7) Natural Ports
America has top-tier natural harbors (and ports) on the worldβs two largest oceans.
Like NYC, Chesapeake, Puget Sound, LA, and SF Bay.
And theyβre well-connected by road/rail/water to industry.
This is huge, with 99% of intβl trade by volume done by ship.
America has top-tier natural harbors (and ports) on the worldβs two largest oceans.
Like NYC, Chesapeake, Puget Sound, LA, and SF Bay.
And theyβre well-connected by road/rail/water to industry.
This is huge, with 99% of intβl trade by volume done by ship.
8) Large Coastline
The coastline of the USA is 5x than that of Africa.
Part of this is because Africa has few inlets and large bays.
The USA also has 3x more coastline than Europe.
More coast also means controlling more ocean in your countryβs exclusive economic zones.
The coastline of the USA is 5x than that of Africa.
Part of this is because Africa has few inlets and large bays.
The USA also has 3x more coastline than Europe.
More coast also means controlling more ocean in your countryβs exclusive economic zones.
9) Correct side of ocean currents
The currents rotate perfectly for the US.
US east coast gets warm, moist air from the tropics.
Great for timber and agriculture.
California croplands feed America with an ideal climate.
Despite San Diego being at the latitude of Egypt!
The currents rotate perfectly for the US.
US east coast gets warm, moist air from the tropics.
Great for timber and agriculture.
California croplands feed America with an ideal climate.
Despite San Diego being at the latitude of Egypt!
10) The North
Canada has bad geography if it wants to be a rival power.
Its cold climate means less productive agriculture.
Much of the country was wiped clean of topsoil by glaciers.
And few rivers.
Due to mountain ranges, provinces trade more with the US than each other.
Canada has bad geography if it wants to be a rival power.
Its cold climate means less productive agriculture.
Much of the country was wiped clean of topsoil by glaciers.
And few rivers.
Due to mountain ranges, provinces trade more with the US than each other.
11) The South
Mexico won't ever rival the US.
It has pockets of arable land in the middle.
Desert in the north. Jungles in the South.
And few good rivers or ports for transport.
Then it has mountains and valleys that make integration difficult as a whole country.
Mexico won't ever rival the US.
It has pockets of arable land in the middle.
Desert in the north. Jungles in the South.
And few good rivers or ports for transport.
Then it has mountains and valleys that make integration difficult as a whole country.
12) Oceans
Germany couldn't invade Britain across 15 miles of the English Channel in World War II.
The Pacific/Atlantic Oceans are massive >2,000 mile barriers against the USA ever worrying about an invasion.
You know Red Dawn where the US is invaded?
Super dumb (but sexy).
Germany couldn't invade Britain across 15 miles of the English Channel in World War II.
The Pacific/Atlantic Oceans are massive >2,000 mile barriers against the USA ever worrying about an invasion.
You know Red Dawn where the US is invaded?
Super dumb (but sexy).
11) Northern hemisphere
You want to be in the Northern half of the planet.
It has 2x the landmass of the southern hemisphere!
Bigger land mass means easier trade and competitiveness.
Even today, most people flying between S America and Africa must connect through the north.
You want to be in the Northern half of the planet.
It has 2x the landmass of the southern hemisphere!
Bigger land mass means easier trade and competitiveness.
Even today, most people flying between S America and Africa must connect through the north.
12) East-West
Does it matter if your country is North-South or East-West?
You want your country (and continent) to be east-west.
Crop types, animals, and ideas do best in certain climates.
If youβre north-south, you must βjumpβ bands to spread.
Asia/N. America are winners.
Does it matter if your country is North-South or East-West?
You want your country (and continent) to be east-west.
Crop types, animals, and ideas do best in certain climates.
If youβre north-south, you must βjumpβ bands to spread.
Asia/N. America are winners.
DISCLAIMER:
My day job is small business and tech entrepreneur.
While I researched this heavily, there may be errors.
Even if I'm wrong on 1 or 2... I missed many more.
I know why I'm never betting against (or leaving) the USA.
We're just too OP from geography alone.
My day job is small business and tech entrepreneur.
While I researched this heavily, there may be errors.
Even if I'm wrong on 1 or 2... I missed many more.
I know why I'm never betting against (or leaving) the USA.
We're just too OP from geography alone.
And my favorite quote about this:
"Never bet against America."
-- Warren Buffet
He's 100% right.
What do you think? Reply below.
"Never bet against America."
-- Warren Buffet
He's 100% right.
What do you think? Reply below.
Give me a follow @girdley for more like this.
And check out my company @joinscalepath if you want to work with me.
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And check out my company @joinscalepath if you want to work with me.
ALSO:
I think Twitter needs to be positive and thoughtful again.
If you agree, bookmark/like/retweet the first tweet below:
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