Usa #1?

[Kilgore Trout]

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.

Makes sense to keep on doing what works for you. What I don't get are all the really informed people who know that life sucks in America, yet continue to live here. Maybe they should try doing what works.

 

[Magic Man]

Makes sense to keep on doing what works for you. What I don't get are all the really informed people who know that life sucks in America, yet continue to live here. Maybe they should try doing what works.

I'm not sure what you're getting at. I don't think most people would say life sucks here, just that it's not as good as some other countries, or that it's not as good across the board here as some other countries. I am an informed person who realizes the quality of life across the board here is lacking in comparison with some countries like Denmark, but my quality of life is pretty good, which is why I stay here. I just mainly complain about it for other people, and vote in a way that hopefully helps change that.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

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. Yes
2. No.
Many people do believe America is not only the greatest nation on the planet and all of history, but they also believe that America is "God's nation." As for myself, I gave a few speeches in one of my classes about why America isn't that great, and how it has been lagging behind the rest of the developed world.

 

[jarofthoughts]

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!

I'll let you have the football reference, mainly because hardly anyone else plays American football, but as for the guns thingie...

I'm not sure I want to be at the top of that list...

 

[jarofthoughts]

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.

What are your criteria?

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.

I agree on a general level, but that raises the question of options. While I can't empirically back that up I have a feeling that a lot of people don't have many options when it comes to that, either because of dependants or because of economic reasons. And even if they have those options they might not know about them (as in know much about the alternatives). I do agree though that if your life sucks you should probably look at alternatives for changing that.

 

[jarofthoughts]

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.

Yeah... In Norway we kinda go for the "not having people in rags" option, and as for riches, we're the richest country in the world with a very decent dispersion of wealth. (Yeah, I know we're behind Luxembourg and Qatar but I don't really see them as "countries"... Sorry if that offends anyone. )

The Gini Index which calculates wealth equality rates Norway at 25.8 (the fifth best in the world) while, for instance the US is rated at 40.8 (a score of 0 indicating perfect equality and a score of 100 indicating perfect inequality). On this scale the worst in the class is probably Namibia with a score of 74.3 while the most equal distribution of wealth can be found in Denmark with a score of 24.7.

The argument that Norway will lose its position when, at some point in the future, the oil runs out is also largely exaggerated. Most of the money gained from the oil and gas exports are being put into a fund which at the time of writing equals some 3000.000.000.000 NOK or in the excess of 500.000.000.000$. In addition to that the government is only allowed to spend a maximum 4% of the income from this fund and the fund itself is estimated to double in value over the next ten years.


List of countries by income equality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gini coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Magic Man]

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.

That's only true if the better life elsewhere was attainable and was worth the hassle of attaining it. I might have a better overall life in France or Sweden, but I'm not sure it's worth leaving everything I have here for.

 

[Magic Man]

Yeah... In Norway we kinda go for the "not having people in rags" option, and as for riches, we're the richest country in the world with a very decent dispersion of wealth. (Yeah, I know we're behind Luxembourg and Qatar but I don't really see them as "countries"... Sorry if that offends anyone. )

The Gini Index which calculates wealth equality rates Norway at 25.8 (the fifth best in the world) while, for instance the US is rated at 40.8 (a score of 0 indicating perfect equality and a score of 100 indicating perfect inequality). On this scale the worst in the class is probably Namibia with a score of 74.3 while the most equal distribution of wealth can be found in Denmark with a score of 24.7.

The argument that Norway will lose its position when, at some point in the future, the oil runs out is also largely exaggerated. Most of the money gained from the oil and gas exports are being put into a fund which at the time of writing equals some 3000.000.000.000 NOK or in the excess of 500.000.000.000$. In addition to that the government is only allowed to spend a maximum 4% of the income from this fund and the fund itself is estimated to double in value over the next ten years.


List of countries by income equality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gini coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh, I'm with you. That's why I said the people here are of a false belief. You have to remember that most Americans are not very knowledgeable about the rest of the world. So, when they hear something great about America (even if it's true elsewhere too), they just assume that's a way America is superior.

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

I'll let you have the football reference, mainly because hardly anyone else plays American football, but as for the guns thingie...

I'm not sure I want to be at the top of that list...

But where would be without our guns and bombs? We need someone to kill, dammit!

 

[Sunstone]

We need someone to kill, dammit!

I'm down with that! So long as they are red, yellow, brown or black people. Or speak a different language. Standards are important to me.

 

[linwood]

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?

Not a bit.

 

[linwood]

Actually according to this statistic USA is actually the 17th LEAST corrupt country in the world.

Pffft!

We`ll make that up in no time.
We really just got started in earnest a few years ago.

That "can do" American spirit will have us passing Somalia in no time!!

 

[Penumbra]

This contains some profanity (it's Lewis Black), but it's very relevant.

[youtube]4mCDZMWVWuc[/youtube]
YouTube - Lewis Black on Broadway talking about how America ISN'T #1

 

[Darkness]

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?

The United States is too vast to be stereotyped so easily. I am from New Jersey and surround myself with liberal college types. I am sure I would not be feeling so peachy about the United States if I lived in the rural area of Alabama, here 40 per cent of the people voted to ban miscegenation back in 2,000.

 

[Twilight Hue]

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?

I dunno about being the best. That would depend on your particular perspective at the time as to what is meant by being the best. I think we are the best country in some things, and worst in others compared to other countries. I still personally think we are among one of the best countries in the world in spite of some important issues at large that we are struggling with, that could sway that opinion in one direction or other.

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

Well, If your happy and satisfied, than the rationality becomes clear I would think. That's why people strive to come here.

 

[jarofthoughts]

The United States is too vast to be stereotyped so easily.

Hence the wording. If the criteria is "most", then if 51% of the population thinks this, then by definition that is a position held by "most".

 

[jarofthoughts]

I think we are the best country in some things, and worst in others compared to other countries.

In what aspect do you think it is the best?
In what aspect do you think it is the worst?

I still personally think we are among one of the best countries in the world in spite of some important issues at large that we are struggling with, that could sway that opinion in one direction or other.

Why do you think it is the best?

Well, If your happy and satisfied, than the rationality becomes clear I would think. That's why people strive to come here.

Arguments from emotion are not rational except for the argument that "this is the best country in the world because I am happy here" but that is still a weak argument for making the international claim that it is the best since by that thinking you do no allow an measurable component to enter the process of consideration. Also, I would imagine that most Americans have not actually tried living anywhere else which means that for all they know they might be happier somewhere else.

 

[Sunstone]

From "The American Empire Is Collapsing, And Americans Will Be The Last to Know":

Americans have a delusional sense of historic exceptionalism which they share with most previous empires. After all America’s ascension to a leading role on the world scene is very recent. The deal was sealed in Yalta in 1945 between Stalin and Roosevelt, with Churchill present but already taking the back seat. In a matter of 5 years, and about 60 million deaths, two new empires had emerged from the ruin of three: the United States and the Soviet Union. On the losing side of history was, of course, Japan, the empire of the sun, but also Britain and France.

--- snip ---

However, most analysts and foreign policy experts currently assume that the present century will not be American. In this tectonic power shift, under the push of China and India, the emerging new world order will be plural and decentralized. But the main question is: How Americans will adapt to this new paradigm where the United States loses its status of uncontested leadership?​

 

[gnomon]

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?

Don't know. Haven't talked to all of them yet.

Depends. If they put forth a rational argument than yes. Doesn't make it right though. Very subjective.

For example, if I wanted to live in a society in which every human being had to carry around little cards that stated their religious affiliation this country would suck. If I wanted to live in a nation where more than 95% of the people probably looked like me and talked like me this nation wouldn't cut it.

 

[Valjean]

Our standard of living and quality of life are decreasing and already below those of most of the rest of the developed nations, our economy's shaky, our middle class's disappearing, our infrastructure's decaying, our manufacturing/industrial base has moved overseas, our media are propagandist entertaiment, our privacy, freedom, social services and civil rights are in rapid decline; our government's controlled by corporate interests and practically owned by China.
We're expending our national treasure desperately trying to hold onto our empire while domestically we're becoming a 3rd world police state.