Merkel Is Getting Me All Hot And Bothered

[rvg]

Russia never has had any of the advantages that the USA ever did.
Russian rivers flow the wrong way for trade, her agricultural areas while good are far from it's markets.

But we have to cross an ocean to do any kind of serious trading.

Much of the expanse has no one in it so effectively Russians live in a big field with the front and back gate open for anyone to walk in. You could say that is why Russin is obssesed with obtaining buffers to protect itself or at the very least why the elite are obssesed with that.

Canada has similar disadvantages, but not the same issues.

[gaelic cowboy]

But we have to cross an ocean to do any kind of serious trading.

All maritime powers are richer than land powers, to trade across land is expensive.

Thats why Ireland has potential for a large GDP per person despite her size.

Canada has similar disadvantages, but not the same issues.

But crucially Canada real security defense wise due to the Empire and had shared cultural mores with America. Later Canada orientated it's trade to integration with the USA to overcome the disadvantage of effectively being two islands and of course she shares the Atlantic and Pacfic with you making trade from either coastline easier.

Russia does not even come close to having the lesser advantages of Canada never mind America.

[rvg]

All maritime powers are richer than land powers, to trade across land is expensive.

I'm not sure I can agree with this. Pre-colonial India was hardly a maritime power, but fabulously rich nonetheless. China was also wealthy even though most of its trade up until the 19th century was conducted via the Silk Road. Colonialism was the primary advantage of maritime powers, but the neither U.S. nor Canada had any colonies worth mentioning.

But crucially Canada real security defense wise due to the Empire and had shared cultural mores with America. Later Canada orientated it's trade to integration with the USA to overcome the disadvantage of effectively being two islands and of course she shares the Atlantic and Pacfic with you making trade from either coastline easier.

But that's just one trade partner. Not enough.

[gaelic cowboy]

I'm not sure I can agree with this. Pre-colonial India was hardly a maritime power, but fabulously rich nonetheless. China was also wealthy even though most of its trade up until the 19th century was conducted via the Silk Road. Colonialism was the primary advantage of maritime powers, but the neither U.S. nor Canada had no colonies worth mentioning.

Pre-Colonial India has a massive all year round ice free coastline and Indian rivers flow through it's agricultural areas to bring goods to port. It actually doesnt matter whose boats they were the key is the wonga the Indains got for things like tea or spices.

China is a special case her problem is the interior is waay waay poorer than her coastline, this has historically fed instability kinda like a stone on a seesaw.
Isolationism is a way to equalise the disparity and balance the seesaw, I'm not saying it's rational just what they did/do to an extent.

But that's just one trade partner. Not enough.

Obviously it is to a certain extent.

[rvg]

Pre-Colonial India has a massive all year round ice free coastline and Indian rivers flow through it's agricultural areas to bring goods to port.

And Russia has the mighty Volga flowing through its heartland and into the Caspian Sea for the lucrative trade with Iran.

China is a special case her problem is the interior is waay waay poorer than her coastline, this has historically fed instability kinda like a stone on a seesaw. Isolationism is a way to equalise the disparity and balance the seesaw, I'm not saying it's rational just what they did/do to an extent.

But the point is that you can get rich even as a dedicated landlubber.

Obviously it is to a certain extent.

Not really, especially since we had little to offer to one another: we didn't need their furs, and they didn't need our furs. Timber? No, plenty of that on both sides. Some agricultural produce from the Deep South, yes, but that's it really.

[gaelic cowboy]

And Russia has the mighty Volga flowing through its heartland and into the Caspian Sea for the lucrative trade with Iran.

But Russian habitation is further west and north and and it's really productive agricultural areas are further south and southwest effectively there was no one there to trade with Iran and they faced west and east as a landpower both of them.

Also Russia has always felt and acted like a landpower trading with Iran while possible was not there priority. There priority was ensuring the regime didnt collapse trying to compete with richer western europe or get eaten by the eastern hordes.

But the point is that you can get rich even as a dedicated landlubber.

I never said you couldnt it's just generally easier to be rich if you have a maritime coast you can actually use, it doesnt take a genius to figure out a ship load of fur is worth more to a nation than a cartload.

Not really, especially since we had little to offer to one another: we didn't need their furs, and they didn't need our furs. Timber? No, plenty of that on both sides. Some agricultural produce from the Deep South, yes, but that's it really.

I said later Canada integrated with the USA as in 19th century early 20th before that all trade went back to the imperial core from her expansive coastlinies and the Hudson river.

[rvg]

But Russian habitation is further west and north and and it's really productive agricultural areas are further south and southwest effectively there was no one there to trade with Iran and they faced west and east as a landpower both of them.

That is definitely not the case. Volga passes through major industrial and agricultural regions of Russia. It is quite easily the most important Russian river.

I never said you couldnt it's just generally easier to be rich if you have a maritime coast you can actually use, it doesnt take a genius to figure out a ship load of fur is worth more to a nation than a cartload.

Let's not forget that one can get lots of carts for the price of one ship.

I said later Canada integrated with the USA as in 19th century early 20th before that all trade went back to the imperial core from her expansive coastlinies and the Hudson river.

But my points stands: Canada was not a suitable trading partner for the U.S.