Supposedly, it's supposed to happen around Tuesday.

I wonder what the error in that estimation is - it could be off by days or even weeks. But still, statistically, it's worth something to be accepted among general people.

The US still has 1.01 billion people less than China, though.

Any thoughts? Worth celebrating? Or worth the opposite?

yay. The EU dwarfs the US population wise.

Altogether, 462 million people were living in the EU on 1 January 2006. The population in the EU exceeds the total number of people living in the United States plus the Russian Federation (438 million), but is easily outnumbered by the populations of China (1.3 billion) and India (over 1.0 billion). Approximately 38 percent of the world’s population are living in these two countries.

Main groth factor EU: migration!

population growth in the EU is mainly the result of foreign migration and, to a lesser extent, of natural growth.

Net migration in 2005 for the EU as a whole was estimated by Eurostat at 1.69 million. Natural population growth, defined as births minus deaths, was 327 thousand in 2005.

Isn't the birth rate in Europe declining?

it is more signifigant to note that in the riches country in the world.. the usa....

out of its 300 million... 1% are homeless.... that 3 million people.

its a disgrace.

-MT

In some countries, not all.

Eurostat expects the population in the EU to increase in the long run and reach 470 million in 2025. This increase will be entirely due to foreign migration (positive net migration 15 million in 2025). Until 2025, deaths will outnumber births by 5 million. Eurostat anticipates a reduction of the EU population after 2025 to 450 million in 2050. Statistics Netherlands expects a sustained population increase to 17.1 million in 2035. Natural growth will account for two-thirds; subsequently, the population of the Netherlands will fall back to 16.9 million in 2050.

it is more signifigant to note that in the riches country in the world.. the usa....

out of its 300 million... 1% are homeless.... that 3 million people.

its a disgrace.

-MT

Why is it a disgrace? Can the homeless not get jobs?

it is more signifigant to note that in the riches country in the world.. the usa....

out of its 300 million... 1% are homeless.... that 3 million people.

its a disgrace.

-MT

Every country has homeless individuals.

Main growth factor EU: migration!Uh, no. Over the past two or three decades it's been annexation.

Pfft. You speak as if the EU is actually one country. Its actually not much different from NAFTA, though it sure as hell gets more press, so why don't you throw Canada and Mexico in with the US population wise?

why don't you throw Canada and Mexico in with the US population wise?

They will once the North American Union comes to pass, but even then the EU would have 30 more million people than us. Just wait until we conquer the Middle East. :D

- N

Pfft. You speak as if the EU is actually one country. Its actually not much different from NAFTA, though it sure as hell gets more press, so why don't you throw Canada and Mexico in with the US population wise?

I was not aware that Mexicans are free to seek a job in the US and had the same rights as US citizens when doing so. I clearly have mistaken the plans to erect a wall between mexico and the US as a means of keeping mexicans out. I assume it is merely an art project.

My apologies.

I was not aware that Mexicans are free to seek a job in the US and had the same rights as US citizens when doing so. I clearly have mistaken the plans to erect a wall between mexico and the US as a means of keeping mexicans out. I assume it is merely an art project.

My apologies.


Yeah but it's one way, it's always one way, Mexicans can come to America and do all that, but can Americans go to Mexico? No. I'm not saying most Americans would want to go to Mexico, but seriously, America is not a big enough place for the entire population of Mexico to come here.

They will once the North American Union comes to pass, but even then the EU would have 30 more million people than us. Just wait until we conquer the Middle East. :D

- N

Show me more about this North America Union, I've been hearing a lot about it, and I think the majority of the country would be outraged if it were true. How exactly can we benefit from a North American Union? Is this our answer to the European Union?

Yeah but it's one way, it's always one way, Mexicans can come to America and do all that, but can Americans go to Mexico? No. I'm not saying most Americans would want to go to Mexico, but seriously, America is not a big enough place for the entire population of Mexico to come here.

I was under the impression that Americans love to go to mexico. If I hear the word Cancun i iimmediately have to think about a yearly american invasion.

Tourism from Mexico’s North American neighbors represents more than 90 percent of Mexico’s international tourism pie, with 89.4 percent coming from the U.S. and 2.8 percent from Canada, Sectur reported. The European market represents 4.3 percent of international tourism, with Latin America right behind it at 2.9 percent.

Which put quite a lot of money in the economy of course:
These international visitors to Mexico spent an unprecedented US$10.621 billion in 2004

Main groth factor EU: migration!

And yet, significantly more people migrate to the US every year (around 1 million, legally, and another 500,000 illegally) than to the EU (around 750,000).


I was not aware that Mexicans are free to seek a job in the US and had the same rights as US citizens when doing so.

Apparently you haven't been to California in the past couple of decades...


I clearly have mistaken the plans to erect a wall between mexico and the US as a means of keeping mexicans out. I assume it is merely an art project.

It's actually an election year project to make the Republicans look like they're accomplishing something. It'll probably be defunded as soon as the new Congress opens session.


Yeah but it's one way, it's always one way, Mexicans can come to America and do all that, but can Americans go to Mexico? No.

Actually, there's currently a condo construction boom underway in parts of Mexico, marketed to Americans as timeshares/retirement homes. There's ads for these beautiful beachfront highrises outside Rosarito in many papers in California. A suggestion that's been floated as part of a comprehensive immigration reform with Mexico is to allow American retirees to access Medicare and other services in Mexico so they can retire there on the cheap. Parts of Mexico near the border can be visited by Americans without any visa: you simply walk (or drive) in. You only get checked trying to come back accross the border to the US.

It's true that you can't get a job in Mexico, but then, neither can the Mexicans. That's why they come to the US in such large numbers.

Show me more about this North America Union, I've been hearing a lot about it, and I think the majority of the country would be outraged if it were true. How exactly can we benefit from a North American Union? Is this our answer to the European Union?If a North American Union were truly modeled after the EU, there would be considerable pressure on the political and economic leaders of Mexico to clean up their act. The problems in Mexico that are the cause of the tide of desperate emigrants are, after all, largely the result of the corruption, elitism and racism that rots the country from the top down.

Is it a no-brainer to realize that a country ruled almost forever by an organization with the oxymoronic name of "The Institutional Revolutionary Party" has veered off in the direction of Soviet-style despotism by nouveau aristocracy?

With more oversight and the need to play more carefully by the same rules as the USA and Canada, Mexico could become a stronger country with fewer forgotten poor and oppressed minorities, higher literacy, a rising per-capita GDP, an infrastructure, and less pressure for its people to leave.

And that, mi hijito, is what we Americans stand to gain.

Don't tell the Mexicans. Other Latin Americans in search of work would be deliriously happy to settle in a prosperous Mexico with a familiar culture, climate and language, instead of coming to el norte.

So check the European model more carefully. Ireland was once the continent's poor relation, look at it now. Let's see what happens in the recently admitted poor countries like Greece and in the even more recently and poorer countries like Hungary, and judge the impact on the original wealthier countries.

So check the European model more carefully. Ireland was once the continent's poor relation, look at it now.

the same for finland.

And yet, significantly more people migrate to the US every year (around 1 million, legally, and another 500,000 illegally) than to the EU (around 750,000).



Apparently you haven't been to California in the past couple of decades...



It's actually an election year project to make the Republicans look like they're accomplishing something. It'll probably be defunded as soon as the new Congress opens session.



Actually, there's currently a condo construction boom underway in parts of Mexico, marketed to Americans as timeshares/retirement homes. There's ads for these beautiful beachfront highrises outside Rosarito in many papers in California. A suggestion that's been floated as part of a comprehensive immigration reform with Mexico is to allow American retirees to access Medicare and other services in Mexico so they can retire there on the cheap. Parts of Mexico near the border can be visited by Americans without any visa: you simply walk (or drive) in. You only get checked trying to come back accross the border to the US.

It's true that you can't get a job in Mexico, but then, neither can the Mexicans. That's why they come to the US in such large numbers.

Republicans will win the election. I'm getting tired of Democrats saying that Republicans will lose, when Democrats have no plan to win.

You are right, Republicans have been somewhat lax on immigration reform, but the American people support immigration reform. I mean I don't know, I don't know what the deal is with the fence, I don't think a fence is a good idea, but thats what they are talking about. Actually a fence is funny, I think it would be better to try a sign.

The reason America is on the verge of being over populated is illegal immigration, as we recieve too much immigration at once, it depresses wages, and it's more than our people and uor economy can handle. Immigration of the illegal kind is the main reason we still have ghettos.
It's also the main reason we have a middle class.

Ghettos continue to exist as long as poverty is invited into a society to keep people living in them. This depresses wages for people who are lower middle class trying to get out of the ghetto (anyone without a degree is lower middle class at best). So now every American needs at least a bachelors degree to compete with all the immigrants. I honestly don't see why we need so many immigrants here, I think it's long term a very bad strategy. Using one currency makes a lot of sense, I think thats a great strategy, but why keep the borders wide open?

It's a great strategy to unify any currency. I just don't know if thats enough to slow immigration. It might give Americans more space, as some Americans could move to Mexico and work there. I think the simple fact is, there is still too much racism in America for an idea like this to take off, and not just racism, but also xenophobia from minorities already here for generations who also wan't the borders sealed. The only people who want open boreders are Mexicans, and CEO's, everyone else wants the borders closed, so it's going to be an uphill battle.

The reason America is on the verge of being over populated is illegal immigration, as we recieve too much immigration at once, it depresses wages, and it's more than our people and uor economy can handle. Immigration of the illegal kind is the main reason we still have ghettos.
It's also the main reason we have a middle class.

What a convenient scapegoat!

You do realize that the EU has a yearly immigration of 1.69 million people?

If a North American Union were truly modeled after the EU, there would be considerable pressure on the political and economic leaders of Mexico to clean up their act. The problems in Mexico that are the cause of the tide of desperate emigrants are, after all, largely the result of the corruption, elitism and racism that rots the country from the top down.

You got it all wrong. There would be no political pressure. First of all, the same people who control Mexico now would control Mexico into the future. The American Union would almost guarentee it.


Is it a no-brainer to realize that a country ruled almost forever by an organization with the oxymoronic name of "The Institutional Revolutionary Party" has veered off in the direction of Soviet-style despotism by nouveau aristocracy?

Maybe that's true, but it's more complicated than you make it seem, Mexico is influenced by American business interests, and it will be far into the future.

With more oversight and the need to play more carefully by the same rules as the USA and Canada, Mexico could become a stronger country with fewer forgotten poor and oppressed minorities, higher literacy, a rising per-capita GDP, an infrastructure, and less pressure for its people to leave.

Minorities are oppressed because they are minorities, not because it makes sense, not because of any reason other than that the powerless are always oppressed by the powerful.

And that, mi hijito, is what we Americans stand to gain.

Don't tell the Mexicans. Other Latin Americans in search of work would be deliriously happy to settle in a prosperous Mexico with a familiar culture, climate and language, instead of coming to el norte.

You've got it wrong, you are assuming that everyone who speaks spanish likes Mexicans or Mexico, thats not exactly true. Mexico will not be filled with puerto ricans anytime soon, and Brazillians, and others, they could live in Mexico, but they'd not be treated as Mexicans and they'd be considered minorities. I think anyone who has made it into the USA would want to stay in the USA, unless Mexico became less racist than the USA.

So check the European model more carefully. Ireland was once the continent's poor relation, look at it now. Let's see what happens in the recently admitted poor countries like Greece and in the even more recently and poorer countries like Hungary, and judge the impact on the original wealthier countries.


Mexico is not Ireland, Irish were still white, even if they were poor, Mexicans will be discrminated against for no reason at all, just for being Mexican and speaking spanish, it's not the same. Also Mexicans currently have the lowest minority status, which means the minorities here, like blacks and asians, and immigrants from other countries like India or Africa who came here with degrees and Phds, are not going to be happy about Mexican immigration because it literally means that every Mexican is their direct competition. That taxi driver, that indian guy in the gas station or 711, that UPS worker, these are the people who don't want illegal immigration. Even a lot of the Mexicans and hispanics here don't want more immigration, because where are Mexicans going to go to live? You have to consider that if Mexicans immigrate, they have to live somewhere. Each group in the lower class has it's ghetto, it's factions, and in some cases it's gangs, and these groups will not like having Mexicans invade their turf. I think if you have a Phd, or degree, you still may not like the fact 1 million immigrants come here, but not for your sake, for the sake of your children who don't have a Phd and who might actually have competition.

So it's really not going to be popular here. It won't be popular among the lower or middle class workers, only the most rich and successful will consider it a good thing. I think immigration can be good, but right now I'm not rich or successful, so my opinion on immigration depends completely on my position in society. My opinion on the American Union depends completely on my position in society, if I'm driving a taxi or working an average middle class job, I'm not going to like the idea, but if I'm running a business, I'd like the idea then, but would still be skeptical about the currency.

From a business point of view, why hire Mexicans on the dollar when you can hire Mexicans on the peso? Mexicans should be wondering why we are more willing to hire Indians and Chinese all the way over there, instead of hiring Mexicans over here. It's not corruption, it's likely political reasons.

What a convenient scapegoat!

You do realize that the EU has a yearly immigration of 1.69 million people?

You are assuming Europe likes immigration. Lets look at the big picture here, there are a lot of Arab immigrants in Europe, especially france. A lot of people are coming into Europe poor, and it's pissing Europeans off, as many don't like to see poverty.

So immigration is good, but it's bad, as it also increases racism and gives people reasons to be racist. The more immigration you have, the more racism you have and xenophobia.

You are assuming Europe likes immigration. Lets look at the big picture here, there are a lot of Arab immigrants in Europe, especially france. A lot of people are coming into Europe poor, and it's pissing Europeans off, as many don't like to see poverty.

So immigration is good, but it's bad, as it also increases racism and gives people reasons to be racist. The more immigration you have, the more racism you have and xenophobia.

Wow...another scapegoat.

Let me guess, the jews caused their own extermination?

US has the capacity for over 1 billion people. But by the time it reaches that mark, it'll be a lot different. Most people would still speak English though.

Just a thought from me to all you Americans who are worried about the population of your country.

The UK is slightly smaller than Oregan, and we have a population of 60,600,000 which equals 250 people to ONE Sq Km.

At the present moment the USA has 300,000,000 people sharing 9,161,923 Sq Km which equals 32 people to ONE Sq Km

So basically the UK is about 8 times denser in its population than the USA.

I personally would appreciate the space you already have, I wish the UK wasn't as over populated

Japan is much denser, especially since all the population is crammed into the coastal regions.

Japan is much denser, especially since all the population is crammed into the coastal regions.

Yep - 380 people per ONE Sq Km

Australia has only 3 people per ONE Sq Km

Lets all move to Oz and breathe fresh air and have some room

America is not a big enough place for the entire population of Mexico to come here.
Ten percent of the Mexican population is already here. As Carlos Mencia said, once Mexico is empty, everyone else down South gets to move up one.:)