Usa #1?

[jarofthoughts]

Just curious about something that is sometimes portrayed by the media...

1. Do most Americans think that USA is the best country in the world?

2. Is there any rational thought behind this claim by those who make it?

 

[Klaufi_Wodensson]

I can't speak for everyone in the U.S.A., but I don't think it's the best country in the world. Especially now, it's definitely in decline. The last time I checked, the Scandinavian countries had the highest standard of living, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Tarheeler]

Both your questions depend on what, exactly, the US is supposed to be the best at.

All nations and political/economic systems have high and lows. And considering that most national systems differ dramatically, you can't consistently compare them in a single overall category.

I'd say that many Americans probably think we excel in the areas of democracy and capitalism, but that we suck in areas such as government efficiency and social welfare systems (whether they are publicly or privately funded).

As for rational thought, it varies. In some areas we are advanced and do well; in others we do not. But nationalism, which every country promotes, tends to allow people to gloss over the bad spots.

 

[jarofthoughts]

The last time I checked, the Scandinavian countries had the highest standard of living, if I'm not mistaken.

That is, as far as I can see, correct.

 

[jarofthoughts]

Both your questions depend on what, exactly, the US is supposed to be the best at.

I'm merely wondering if the "average American", if there is such a thing, looks beyond the borders of their own country and sometimes compares it with other countries. Often (but to be fair, not always) in discussions with Americans they seem to claim that their country is the best in the world, and when pressed for why that is they are often either misinformed or they resort to responses like "because it is", which, I'm sure you agree, not much of a rationale.

All nations and political/economic systems have high and lows. And considering that most national systems differ dramatically, you can't consistently compare them in a single overall category.

True, there is no -one- country that beats everyone else at every category. But a lot of the things we think about as aspects of a country, be it healthcare, education, democracy, freedom of speech, criminal statistics, poverty rates, tax levels and so on, are in fact measurable and therefore comparable.

I'd say that many Americans probably think we excel in the areas of democracy and capitalism, but that we suck in areas such as government efficiency and social welfare systems (whether they are publicly or privately funded).

Do you agree with this view?
How do you define excelling in democracy and capitalism?

As for rational thought, it varies. In some areas we are advanced and do well; in others we do not. But nationalism, which every country promotes, tends to allow people to gloss over the bad spots.

While I am in no way opposed to nationalism and patriotism, I feel that these must be tempered with a clear critical view of one's own country lest one becomes blind to one's own faults and shortcomings. Very much like we should do on a personal level as well.

 

[Tarheeler]

I'm merely wondering if the "average American", if there is such a thing, looks beyond the borders of their own country and sometimes compares it with other countries. Often (but to be fair, not always) in discussions with Americans they seem to claim that their country is the best in the world, and when pressed for why that is they are often either misinformed or they resort to responses like "because it is", which, I'm sure you agree, not much of a rationale.

True, there is no -one- country that beats everyone else at every category. But a lot of the things we think about as aspects of a country, be it healthcare, education, democracy, freedom of speech, criminal statistics, poverty rates, tax levels and so on, are in fact measurable and therefore comparable.

Yes, we can compare individual categories, but that's about it. Even trying consolidate the results of various categories isn't effective; the individual areas influence the population differently and illicit varied reactions.

And, while I can't speak for all my countrymen, I think (hope?) that most understand this.

If you want to know if Americans look beyond our own borders, you should ask them.
The questions in your OP don't do that; someone can look across the world and still think their nation is on top.

Do you agree with this view?
How do you define excelling in democracy and capitalism?

Not necessarily. I'm a cynical student of political science and tend to look at my country and government analytically. We're far from be the cess pool many are quick to paint us as, but there are many areas that need drastic improvement.

As for defining it, excelling in fair and free elections, rule by consensus, a free market with little state control, private ownership of resources and capital.

While I am in no way opposed to nationalism and patriotism, I feel that these must be tempered with a clear critical view of one's own country lest one becomes blind to one's own faults and shortcomings. Very much like we should do on a personal level as well.

True, but few people anywhere in the world are willing to do so.

 

[Sunstone]

I recall seeing somewhere a poll that held about 70% of Americans believe the USA is the best nation on earth in which to live.

 

[142857]

The best at being corrupt...best at lying.....best at spin.

 

[jarofthoughts]

The best at being corrupt...best at lying.....best at spin.

Actually according to this statistic USA is actually the 17th LEAST corrupt country in the world.
The most corrupt country in the world according this statistic is Chad while this statistic claims it is Somalia, but even so, USA doesn't even make the top ten.

Lying and spinning are terms that are hard to measure so I'll leave those out of the equation for now.

 

[jarofthoughts]

Yes, we can compare individual categories, but that's about it. Even trying consolidate the results of various categories isn't effective; the individual areas influence the population differently and illicit varied reactions.

That may well be, but when one's country ends up far down on many of the central categories it seems to me that one might want to rethink the whole "best country" in the world phrase.

If you want to know if Americans look beyond our own borders, you should ask them.
The questions in your OP don't do that; someone can look across the world and still think their nation is on top.

Perhaps I was being unclear. I'll make an example from my own country to clarify what I mean. In 2006 Norway did badly on the academic PISA tests for literacy, science and mathematics (as measured by the test results of tenth graders). Not terrible, but a lot worse than we had expected (hoped?). In the four years that has passed since then Norway has had a political and economic focus on elementary education leading to a significant improvement as compared with the 2009 results. Some of this focus included going to the countries that got the best scores and studying what they were doing and then including some of that thinking into our own school system.

This is just one way of being able to look beyond one's borders and acknowledging that someone, somewhere is potentially doing certain things better than you and that you might do well to pick up a few pointers.

Not necessarily. I'm a cynical student of political science and tend to look at my country and government analytically. We're far from be the cess pool many are quick to paint us as, but there are many areas that need drastic improvement.

Agree on both accounts.

As for defining it, excelling in fair and free elections, rule by consensus, a free market with little state control, private ownership of resources and capital.

I must say that from where I am standing US elections look like a circus and it appears as if only the rich (or those who through other means have access to vast resources) are the only ones who have a shot at making it, and to be honest what the US media channels call a debate is a joke.
But I'm open to the possibility that I might be biased.

True, but few people anywhere in the world are willing to do so.

Well, that is a shortcoming we should remedy as soon as possible, don't you think?

 

[142857]

Actually according to this statistic USA is actually the 17th LEAST corrupt country in the world.
The most corrupt country in the world according this statistic is Chad while this statistic claims it is Somalia, but even so, USA doesn't even make the top ten.

If you are the best at being corrupt....do you appear to be corrupt at all?

 

[jarofthoughts]

If you are the best at being corrupt....do you appear to be corrupt at all?

Perhaps not, but then that begs the question; how would you know about it?

 

[Tarheeler]

That may well be, but when one's country ends up far down on many of the central categories it seems to me that one might want to rethink the whole "best country" in the world phrase.

I agree to an point. But that method still ignores the impact of each category and the value each population places on them. For example, Americans are more likely to see state involvement in market much less favorably than the Japanese. And does access to a well maintained highway system have the same value to society as fair and impartial trials?

I'm not arguing that the US is the "best"; I honestly don't think it's possible to rate a nation in such a way. I'm saying that the best we can do is compare the individual categories.

Perhaps I was being unclear. I'll make an example from my own country to clarify what I mean. In 2006 Norway did badly on the academic PISA tests for literacy, science and mathematics (as measured by the test results of tenth graders). Not terrible, but a lot worse than we had expected (hoped?). In the four years that has passed since then Norway has had a political and economic focus on elementary education leading to a significant improvement as compared with the 2009 results. Some of this focus included going to the countries that got the best scores and studying what they were doing and then including some of that thinking into our own school system.

This is just one way of being able to look beyond one's borders and acknowledging that someone, somewhere is potentially doing certain things better than you and that you might do well to pick up a few pointers.

I agree that's an excellent approach.
And stating that way is much more effective than your opening post.

I must say that from where I am standing US elections look like a circus and it appears as if only the rich (or those who through other means have access to vast resources) are the only ones who have a shot at making it, and to be honest what the US media channels call a debate is a joke.
But I'm open to the possibility that I might be biased.

I agree it must look very messy to an outsider; but, then again, the idea of "shadow governments" used in parliamentary systems seems very odd to me.

And remember, I'm not arguing that we are the best in electoral procedure. Access and cost are definately problem areas; we could benefit from a lot of changes when it comes to our campaign and party systems. Personally, I'd love to see a form of proportional representation developed that would work well with our federal system.

Well, that is a shortcoming we should remedy as soon as possible, don't you think?

Of course. But it would take a major overhaul of human nature, and I think that is probably a long way off.

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

Just curious about something that is sometimes portrayed by the media...

1. Do most Americans think that USA is the best country in the world?

Yes.

2. Is there any rational thought behind this claim by those who make it?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: To claim that a nation, organization, group, person, etc. is the "best" requires defining the ranking criteria. What exactly constitutes the "best" nation? Highest standard of living? Because we don't lead that. Highest level of wealth parity? Nope, not even close. Best health care system? Definitely not, even after health care reform. But hey, we got the most expensive military! And we got the best football players, because we KNOW that football is NOT futbol! Better yet, we got more guns than anybody! Guns, biceps, and more guns, we got 'em so we're the BEST!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The best nation to live in depend's on one's criteria for what is best. By my criteria, the United States is overall the best country to live in. If I thought my life would be better somewhere else, then I'd formulate a plan to move there. Then again, the type of people who complain about their situation, but do nothing to improve it, probably wouldn't have too great of a life wherever they lived.

 

[Magic Man]

Just curious about something that is sometimes portrayed by the media...

1. Do most Americans think that USA is the best country in the world?

2. Is there any rational thought behind this claim by those who make it?

1) Without any concrete support, I'd say yes. It does seem like most Americans think that.

2) Not really. Usually it's just empty patriotism. I think generally the rationales you'll get are things like "freedom" and "the American dream" (going from rags to riches). I think many of these people mistakenly think we're unique in reference to those things, as if other countries don't have as much freedom as we do and there isn't as much opportunity in other countries as here.

 

[Valjean]

Americans are ignorant. Most get all their news and their world-view from TV network "news." They know little about life beyond their individual regions. They're told the USA is the best, and they accept it unquestioningly.

America does have a powerful, high-tech military, but in just about any quality-of-life index the US is nowhere near #1 and is declining.
Most American's are unaware of this.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

America does have a powerful, high-tech military, but in just about any quality-of-life index the US is nowhere near #1 and is declining.
Most American's are unaware of this.

Yeah, especially the ones who have a good quality of life. They're too ignorant to even know that their quality of life sucks! Morons.

 

[Bismillah]

From my experience the people who have worked hard early on are enjoying a better and better life in America.

 

[Magic Man]

Yeah, especially the ones who have a good quality of life. They're too ignorant to even know that their quality of life sucks! Morons.

Actually they're just too ignorant to know that the overall quality of life here is worse than many other countries. Part of the problem is precisely that their quality of life is pretty good at the time, so that's all they base their opinion on.