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This map from StrangeMaps.com and BigPicture.com relabels each of the 50 United States with countries that have similar gross domestic products (GDPs). GDP is the market value of all goods and services produced in a country within a year. Of course, we can find similar figures for each of the 50 states.

Hawaii is world famous, not a world economic power

For example, Nigeria’s GDP of US$82 billion is about the same size as the state of Hawaii, which is also 39th on a ranking of the 50 states and DC.

New Zealand’s GDP of US$99 billion is comparable to the District of Columbia. Yes, the nation’s capital city has a bigger economy than the entire state of Hawaii.

New Jersey is comparable to Russia (US$733 billion), so there’s the number five slot.

Texas is number two: it matches up to Canada, which is the #10 country at US$1.08 trillion.

In the number one slot: California, which matches up to France’s GDP of US$2.15 trillion.

As noted in the article, a map based on per capita GDP would look very different. Most of the US states have smaller populations than their GDP equivalents.

Thanks to Boing Boing for links!

USA: The New York Times has proposed abolishing the Electoral College. In the Electoral College, every vote is not equal. Small states like it that way, so I doubt that small state legislatures will vote for the consitutional amendment required to make this change. Presidential candidates would pay more attention to the needs of the larger states like New York and California, at the expense of smaller states like Hawaii and Nevada. Swing states would be a thing of the past. As the Times points out, Yucca Flats is getting more attention than NYC security in this campaign.

Abolishing the Electoral College could encourage more voters to participate in presidential elections, if voters know that their vote directly counts towards the total results, and that votes will be accurately tabulated. I lived in Texas in 2000, so my vote against W was for naught.

USA: Killer bees may have reached Oklahoma. A work crew was attacked in Tipton earlier this month while tending to a tree. Seven people required treatment for bee stings.

Related posts on billso.com

• 15 May 2008: Crazy ants run amuck in Texas, ruining computers
• 13 August 2004: Giant mutant ants in Australia

USA: I don’t often think about Texas. But I do miss the Alamo Drafthouse, one of the better things about Austin. Now that the drafthouse is franchising it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Hope they don’t go under like Schlotzsky’s did earlier in the week.

US: A fresh Jim Hightower interview in Mother Jones. Some of his stories take me back a few years to Austin and Gubna W’s administration. The bulk of the interview covers the compromises progressives and the Kerry campaign are making to defeat W.