Do You Think The Usa Is The Greatest Country In The World?

[RonBurgundy 0]

No agenda, just curious.feel free to discuss (especially what GREATEST implies for you. is it military power? GNP? Personal Freedoms? Overall Quality Of Life?).

[BigLebowski 0]

Think it is completely based on circumstance and only arguable from a narrow personal point of view.

[Sal Paradise 57]

best country I've ever been to

[BudBundy 0]

Obviously greatest right now. Like Roman Empire , Ottomans , Great Britain or the Egyptians once were. Today's world is very different than those times tho. Even the greatest isn't fully independant.

[LongLiveYorke 38]

I voted that it wasn't a valid question. It's the country that I'd most like to live in, but that's because I've grown up with the culture and it has become a part of who I am. Therefore, it's clearly the country that I most identify with. However, if I grew up in England, I could potentally hold the same feelings but instead love (gulp) soccer or whatever. Same with France, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Australia, or whatever. It's not a sure thing and the US certainly has many objective advantages over these other countries, but it's impossible to tell where my priorities would be if I grew up somewhere else.But personally I could never live for a prolonged period of time in a country in which I couldn't make Seinfeld references and have people understand what I'm talking about.

[runthemover 39]

I also said it wasn't a valid question.if you had a pick a country to live in though it'd probably be a scandinavian country. swedish twins!

[jmkiser 0]

I said no.Maybe the mightiest, but the greatest? I don't see how that's possibly true.In the 1950's, sure, we were the greatest.But now, we've tanked plenty as a country and are continuing to do so at a faster and faster rate.I love my country and I want to see it do better.Bill Maher's New Rule: "America should stop saying they're the greatest country in the world and start acting like" ... cheers to that. New Rule: Stop talking, start actingI had my opinion before seeing the video, but this probably explains my feelings the most.

[Balloon guy 158]

I voted not valid questionThe question should have been:Is the USA the greatest county in all of history and the known universe?Which I would reply in the affirmative.Except when you are at anti-war protest rallys and they threaten to have you removed by calling the police on you.Then I wish I was in England, where at least the protesters have to balls to listen to disenting opinions.

[copernicus 0]

I said no.Maybe the mightiest, but the greatest? I don't see how that's possibly true.In the 1950's, sure, we were the greatest.But now, we've tanked plenty as a country and are continuing to do so at a faster and faster rate.

Pick an alternative and why.I agree with LLY, a lot has to do with your perspective and your goals. Eg if I were a lazy sloth who wanted 5 months off a year between vacations and strikes and still have subisdized health care, food and transportation then I might prefer France.

[jmkiser 0]

Pick an alternative and why.I agree with LLY, a lot has to do with your perspective and your goals. Eg if I were a lazy sloth who wanted 5 months off a year between vacations and strikes and still have subisdized health care, food and transportation then I might prefer France.

I threw in some edits to my post by the way. An alternative? It's not about an alternative. We're talking about being the "Who is the greatest country in the world?". I don't see how that is possibly true for the US. If you say yes, then prove it to me.The only thing that is OBVIOUS for us being number one in is our military might. We're not even close to first in topics such as health, individual freedom, education, or hell... even innovation for that matter.If there's something I do love about our country more then any other, then it would be the old American mantras and attitude. Not the ignorant "we're the greatest" with no reason why. I love the American personality more then any other country because we have ALWAYS spouted the "we can find a way to do anything we put our minds to".But if you want to talk about logical measurements of a country, we don't add up right now. The great thing that I love about America, though, is that we could if we really really tried.

[DanielNegreanu 141]

Each year there are studies done to rate countries in various areas in terms of "greatness." People who live in Denmark are considered to be the happiest in the world. They pay insanely high taxes, the government funds all kinds of programs and people are content to let the government play a big role. By contrast, a country with a very different approach to government, Indonesia ranks third! I found that surprise, with the caning and all... USA didn't rank in the top 10 as far as I remember according to the "happiness poll."

[jmkiser 0]

Each year there are studies done to rate countries in various areas in terms of "greatness." People who live in Denmark are considered to be the happiest in the world. They pay insanely high taxes, the government funds all kinds of programs and people are content to let the government play a big role. By contrast, a country with a very different approach to government, Indonesia ranks third! I found that surprise, with the caning and all... USA didn't rank in the top 10 as far as I remember according to the "happiness poll."

That happiness poll is one poll of many to go off of. For there to be an exact study, every country would have to agree on all the topics (definitely needs to be more then one) and agree on how the studies were done.As far as going off of what information we have, though, I don't think it's even possible that our average is higher then every other country's average.

[Flushgarden 0]

An alternative? It's not about an alternative.

Yes...I do believe it is. If America is not the greatest country then there must be a different country that is greater. Please tell us which one that is. The question was not "is America perftect". We can all agree that it is not.

[checkymcfold 0]

i've lived in canada and germany for a while, and although i can't speak for other countries, i'd say germany>canada>usa, although the latter two are basically the same in my book (gay marriage tips the scales for me there, though).

[copernicus 0]

An alternative? It's not about an alternative. I guess its above your pay grade.

[jmkiser 0]

Yes...I do believe it is. If America is not the greatest country then there must be a different country that is greater. Please tell us which one that is. The question was not "is America perftect". We can all agree that it is not.

I don't know exactly what country is "greater" as far as an average in stastics go. But why would I be so ignorant as to think that we ARE the greatest among the statistics? As far as the few studies that I've actually heard, America doesn't even break the top 10 in MOST of them except for military status.I didn't answer the America isn't perfect question. I answered the Is America the greatest question. And quite logically, too. If you want to make the claim that America is the greatest, give me YOUR proof!

[jmkiser 0]

I guess its above your pay grade.Has nothing to do with pay grades and don't even try to equate me with Obama or liberalism if that's what you were trying to do.We should all actually discuss this openly.Give me reasons as to why America IS the greatest country in the world. Freedom? Wrong. Democratic government? Wrong. Average health? Nope. Education of our youth? Not even CLOSE! Kids in other countries know more about America then our kids do about US!

[FCP Bob 1,312]

Here's a list in order of the top countries based on the Human Development Index. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare.I'm not a statistician so it's possible that the differences between the top countries aren't significant.Iceland Norway Australia Canada Ireland Sweden Switzerland Japan Netherlands France Finland United States Spain Denmark Austria United Kingdom Belgium Luxembourg New Zealand Italy Hong Kong, China (SAR) Germany Israel Greece Singapore Korea, Rep. of Slovenia Cyprus Portugal Brunei Darussalam

[RonBurgundy 0]

i voted not sure. i have lived in 2 other countries for extended periods of time, chile and now argentina. i wouldnt call either of them better or worse, just different. i like some things better about each place.however, i can see myself being very happy in a well-run socialist country such as some of the scandinavian countries listed (if only it weren't so damn cold). if i have to live in a smaller house, pay higher taxes, and eat simple food in order to go to sleep every night knowing the government is at least attempting to have every person fed, clothed, and sheltered, i think i can live with that.

[jmkiser 0]

Taking the cue from FCP Bob...America used to be the constant leader in the standard of living per person list, and a few months ago, Britain knocks us down to number two. Wtf?! Since when has America had to look up at Britain to complain about "those rich bastards!"?We're supposed to have the wealth!!!!! FFSYes... a socialist country has beaten the US in standard of living per person... all those poor Britains who are so over-taxed that it's a shock they even afford food for their families.

[SAM_Hard8 50]

Each year there are studies done to rate countries in various areas in terms of "greatness." People who live in Denmark are considered to be the happiest in the world. They pay insanely high taxes, the government funds all kinds of programs and people are content to let the government play a big role. By contrast, a country with a very different approach to government, Indonesia ranks third! I found that surprise, with the caning and all... USA didn't rank in the top 10 as far as I remember according to the "happiness poll."

It's hard to quantify greatness or happiness, but I have been to Indonesia and have friends there and any study that rates it third on the happiness scale is seriously flawed.BTW the caning was in Singapore. I could see them being third on the scale (been there too)

[copernicus 0]

Here's a list in order of the top countries based on the Human Development Index. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare.I'm not a statistician so it's possible that the differences between the top countries aren't significant.Iceland Norway Australia Canada Ireland Sweden Switzerland Japan Netherlands France Finland United States Spain Denmark Austria United Kingdom Belgium Luxembourg New Zealand Italy Hong Kong, China (SAR) Germany Israel Greece Singapore Korea, Rep. of Slovenia Cyprus Portugal Brunei Darussalam

Its ultimately a subjective issue. There is no way to determine objective criteria and weights for those criteria. The US generally ranks between 8th and 15th in those kinds of studies. However one consistent factor in all of them is that countries that rank above them are much smaller and homogeneous in their populations.

[copernicus 0]

I guess its above your pay grade.Has nothing to do with pay grades and don't even try to equate me with Obama or liberalism if that's what you were trying to do.Give me reasons as to why America IS the greatest country in the world. Freedom? Wrong. Democratic government? Wrong. Average health? Nope. Education of our youth? Not even CLOSE! Kids in other countries know more about America then our kids do about US!

No, it was a reference to your having formed an opinion but claiming not to have reasons for that opinion.Youve given some and we disagree on 3 out of 4. Its a pointless discussion because everyone value things differently, measures them differently and gives them different levels of importance.

[FCP Bob 1,312]

Its ultimately a subjective issue. There is no way to determine objective criteria and weights for those criteria. The US generally ranks between 8th and 15th in those kinds of studies. However one consistent factor in all of them is that countries that rank above them are much smaller and homogeneous in their populations.

Canada and Australia are large countries ( not as large in population obviously) and they have a much higher percentage of their total population being immigrants. About 13% for the US, 19% for Canada and 20% for Australia.Having a diverse population doesn't stop a country from being near the top in this particular measurement.

[RonBurgundy 0]

However one consistent factor in all of them is that countries that rank above them are much smaller and homogeneous in their populations.

so are almost all the ones below us. not trying to be a dick but that logic is kinda silly. australia and canada are big and they're above us. but they dont have black people or mexicans, so thats why they're ranked higher?