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Absolutely. The United States is the greatest nation on Earth. What it is not, however, is the best country in the world. There's a big difference between the two.
Even Elon Musk says so:
Quote:
Musk has described the United States as "[inarguably] the greatest country that has ever existed on Earth," describing it as "the greatest force for good of any country that's ever been." Musk believes democracy would not exist any longer if not for the United States, saying that it prevented this disappearance on three occasions through its participation in World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Musk also stated that he thinks "it would be a mistake to say the United States is perfect, it certainly is not. There have been many foolish things the United States has done and bad things the United States has done
Absolutely. The United States is the greatest nation on Earth. What it is not, however, is the best country in the world. There's a big difference between the two.
Even Elon Musk says so:
Or to put it my simpler terms, it's the most powerful (military, economically, global influence) but not the best for quality of life (high crime, racial tensions, crumbling infrastructure, healthcare system or lack thereof, income gap, and capitalism to the point you're literally worked to death).
The metric system is used by a whopping 95% of the world population. USA's competitiveness is hampered by its refusal to adopt the very logical metric system. Congress in the 1980s actually passed a metric law, but Ronald Reagan either vetoed or put it on hold.
USA's long-distance rail transportation (Amtrak) is embarrassingly slow, inefficient, and unreliable/ chronically behind schedule. Cities as large as Phoenix and Nashville have no service at all. And public works transportation projects, like NYC's new 2nd avenue subway line, are 2 or 3 times as costly to build - as European countries' systems are - due to corruption, inefficiency, and "featherbedding" (union regulations requiring excessing and redundant staffing levels.
USA has no commuter bus rapid transit (dedicated bus express lanes), unlike Brazil, Colombia, and European countries.
Medical procedures in USA, as well as medications such as Insulin, cost SEVERAL TIMES what they do in Europe, Canada, and other developed countries.
USA violent crime is many times higher than any other developed country -- and especially Japan which has virtually none.
Recycling compliance and collection is far higher in Europe than USA, and has been this way for decades. The capital city, Washington, had no recycling at all until about a decade ago after it was sued by the Sierra Club.
I do think America is the greatest country in the world with a nasty habit of getting in its own way.
Serious flaws:
1. Unabated capitalism at the expense of the poor and middle-class.
2. Racism and discrimination
3. Inequality in education and opportunity
4. The dumbing down of America.
5. Education and healthcare are for-profit institutions.
We fix those 5 things, America will dominate for centuries. If not, we'll crumble from within.
No I'm sorry but I honestly can't say it is the greatest country. I don't think there is one. Although some definitely have a better quality of life, and function more efficiently than others. I do hear the statement made quite often in the US. I've also heard it made by Americans when visiting other countries. I will say that many countries no longer think the US is the greatest country. If in fact they ever did.
Well, there are people on this forum who keep arguing that smaller living spaces, smaller cars and more public transportation make other countries superior to the United States.
The metric system is used by a whopping 95% of the world population. USA's competitiveness is hampered by its refusal to adopt the very logical metric system. Congress in the 1980s actually passed a metric law, but Ronald Reagan either vetoed or put it on hold.
USA's long-distance rail transportation (Amtrak) is embarrassingly slow, inefficient, and unreliable/ chronically behind schedule. Cities as large as Phoenix and Nashville have no service at all. And public works transportation projects, like NYC's new 2nd avenue subway line, are 2 or 3 times as costly to build - as European countries' systems are - due to corruption, inefficiency, and "featherbedding" (union regulations requiring excessing and redundant staffing levels.
USA has no commuter bus rapid transit (dedicated bus express lanes), unlike Brazil, Colombia, and European countries.
Medical procedures in USA, as well as medications such as Insulin, cost SEVERAL TIMES what they do in Europe, Canada, and other developed countries.
USA violent crime is many times higher than any other developed country -- and especially Japan which has virtually none.
Recycling compliance and collection is far higher in Europe than USA, and has been this way for decades. The capital city, Washington, had no recycling at all until about a decade ago after it was sued by the Sierra Club.
A lot of light rail projects in the US lack the type of coverage that would make them serious alternatives to cars. Americans still love driving around all over the place and don't pay enough attention to PT, bar a few places.
Amtrak is used more as a leisure form of travel than a serious mode of transportation.
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