Thread: America Is not the best country in the world

The irony of that story is that America is a country where he can get away with saying things like that. And, its not the best?

In theory, the teacher is kinda right. 60% of all adult Americans are over weight and about 30% are obese. Thats much worse than anywhere else in the world. America has some pretty bad crime statistics too and I'd be here all day if I even started to list them.

But, on the other end, America is a land of freedom. And, I'm talking REALLY free. There are precious few other places where you can get away with calling the president a jerk-wad and worse and still get away with it. And, of course there are many other good things that make the U.S. a pretty kick ass place to live.

China is not the best country. Its polluted and over-populated (which is crazy considering how big it is). But, I don't think that America is either. Barbados is quite nice. All the freedoms of America and slightly less crime. Bermuda is great country too. But, no country is without its problems.

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

But, on the other end, America is a land of freedom. And, I'm talking REALLY free. There are precious few other places where you can get away with calling the president a jerk-wad and worse and still get away with it.

...of course this isn't true. Canada, Austraila, almost all of Europe. Almost all developed countries have similar levels of freedom

what exactly is "The Best" anyway?

There are tons of ways to qualify that depending on what is important to you. The US is best in some categories and absolutely horrible in others.

The US is probably one of the best for health care if you are rich. (If you are poor, not so much)

The US isn't anywhere near the best if safety and low crime is something you consider important.

The US isn't even the best as far as broadband or cellular coverage goes.

Many countries have higher life expectancies.

Many countries have more or less pollution.

The whole concept of calling a country 'best' is ridiculous

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

...of course this isn't true. Canada, Austraila, almost all of Europe. Almost all developed countries have similar levels of freedom

:yep:

And a better quality of lifestyle, more social concern...less capitalism. I would even venture to say less corruption as well.

Sudan is the best country.

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

...of course this isn't true. Canada, Austraila, almost all of Europe. Almost all developed countries have similar levels of freedom

Not entirely true.

Those places that you mentioned, like Europe and Canada, have their own "Bill of Rights" like America, but those rights are at the pleasure of the government. It says so right in their laws. So they are not “unalienable” rights. Only our America, in all of history, was founded on the assumption that the individual has rights that exist apart from the government and not at its pleasure. Then, in 1868, the Constitution was amended to say that even the states cannot violate our unalienable rights. Pretty much no other place on Earth has that.

Now even if all those places you mentioned were just as free as America, it would still be a "precious few" like I said. Almost every country in Africa, China, Trinidad and Tobago, some of South America. These are all places where you cant take the American freedom mouth.

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

Not entirely true.

Those places that you mentioned, like Europe and Canada, have their own "Bill of Rights" like America, but those rights are at the pleasure of the government. It says so right in their laws. So they are not “unalienable” rights. Only our America, in all of history, was founded on the assumption that the individual has rights that exist apart from the government and not at its pleasure. Then, in 1868, the Constitution was amended to say that even the states cannot violate our unalienable rights. Pretty much no other place on Earth has that.

Now even if all those places you mentioned were just as free as America, it would still be a "precious few" like I said. Almost every country in Africa, China, Trinidad and Tobago, some of South America. These are all places where you cant take the American freedom mouth.

Don't worry, our government is working quickly to change that.


The Patriot Act for example; part of which says the government has a right to know what books you borrow from a public library.

SO you're telling me a fucking terrorist needs to go to the public library to find a book? What's he looking for, "How to blow up a building for Dummies?"

Thats a very good point. I forgot about the Patriot Act.

The teacher should move to China and live as an average Chinaman and see how much he likes it then.

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

Thats a very good point. I forgot about the Patriot Act.

That just scratches the surface... You can be unlawfully convicted and thrown in prison since Habeas Corpus has been suspended.

Thank you Fufu thats exactly what I was thinking. i dont think its a problem that he think china is better, but he shouldnt be preaching it to 10 yr olds. My brother then said that america is the best and he told him he is wrong.

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

Not entirely true.

Those places that you mentioned, like Europe and Canada, have their own "Bill of Rights" like America, but those rights are at the pleasure of the government. It says so right in their laws. So they are not “unalienable” rights. Only our America, in all of history, was founded on the assumption that the individual has rights that exist apart from the government and not at its pleasure. Then, in 1868, the Constitution was amended to say that even the states cannot violate our unalienable rights. Pretty much no other place on Earth has that.

Now even if all those places you mentioned were just as free as America, it would still be a "precious few" like I said. Almost every country in Africa, China, Trinidad and Tobago, some of South America. These are all places where you cant take the American freedom mouth.

I was talking about developed countries if you read my post. African and Asian countries are largely poorer or developing.

I'm not sure what the difference is. A free country is a free country. It doesn't really matter to me if it is "unalienable" or not. If I can say and do what I want and I vote the government in... sounds pretty much the same to me

Originally Posted by danny81

Thank you Fufu thats exactly what I was thinking. i dont think its a problem that he think china is better, but he shouldnt be preaching it to 10 yr olds. My brother then said that america is the best and he told him he is wrong.

They are both wrong... but yeah a 10 yr old should be wrong more often than a teacher

anyone who has a graduate level education knows that the arguement "America is not the best country in the world" is not sound nor valid.

If you have ever taken the GMAT, LAST, MCAT, GRE (graduate school entrance exams for business school, law school, medical shool, etc.) knows the world "best" is questionable terminolgy. It is impossible to define the word best due to its infinite subjectivity.

It doesn't matter is we are obese, fat, and arrogant....there is no absolute def'n of the word best; therefore, there cannot be a premise why were are/aren't.


On a practical note, does this teacher know that Chinese deficate in public sometimes? Pretty F$%&ing classy huh? pretty clean and sanitary huh?

I've been to several countries (not a ton, but enough to know) that I would keep my US citizenship forever!

China and America, where reporters/journalists get thrown in jail for speaking freely...

For me Australia is about equal with America as a place I would want to live, the Netherlands is the next best place I'd want to live. Italy, Germany and France seem like good places for an artist like me to hone his skills, so I can't say America is the best because I have other personal factors involved...

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

what exactly is "The Best" anyway?


The US isn't anywhere near the best if safety and low crime is something you consider important.

Depends on where you live. If you live in a big city with multi cultural populations, that may be true. But there are many places in Rural america where people live and leave doors and windows unlocked even when not there with no worry about anyone stealing anything or any type of violent crime.

Originally Posted by danny81

Today I got home from school. and my little brother(10) told me that his teacher told him that America was not the best country. Then he goes on to say that China was the best and will stay the best for the next 100 years. I thought this was ridicoulous. I mean everyone is entitle to there own opinion, but he should not try to twist the minds of little children. He also talked badly about the war in Iraq(which I am not a huge fan of), but he should stil not try to do something like that.

I'd like to take my stab at this.

No one with a slight bit of education would tell you China is the best country. Living condition, freedom, death penalty.....to name a few are among the worst in the world.

My guess is as good as any's.....

but I think what that teacher was saying is China will be the next powerhouse country. Your brother is 10 years old, it's not uncommon for ten year olds to misunderstand what people tell them.

Originally Posted by lnvanry

anyone who has a graduate level education knows that the arguement "America is not the best country in the world" is not sound nor valid.

If you have ever taken the GMAT, LAST, MCAT, GRE (graduate school entrance exams for business school, law school, medical shool, etc.) knows the world "best" is questionable terminolgy. It is impossible to define the word best due to its infinite subjectivity.

It doesn't matter is we are obese, fat, and arrogant....there is no absolute def'n of the word best; therefore, there cannot be a premise why were are/aren't.


On a practical note, does this teacher know that Chinese deficate in public sometimes? Pretty F$%&ing classy huh? pretty clean and sanitary huh?

I've been to several countries (not a ton, but enough to know) that I would keep my US citizenship forever!

well said..............


it's purely subjective.

Originally Posted by lnvanry

anyone who has a graduate level education knows that the arguement "America is not the best country in the world" is not sound nor valid.

If you have ever taken the GMAT, LAST, MCAT, GRE (graduate school entrance exams for business school, law school, medical shool, etc.) knows the world "best" is questionable terminolgy. It is impossible to define the word best due to its infinite subjectivity.

It doesn't matter is we are obese, fat, and arrogant....there is no absolute def'n of the word best; therefore, there cannot be a premise why were are/aren't.


On a practical note, does this teacher know that Chinese deficate in public sometimes? Pretty F$%&ing classy huh? pretty clean and sanitary huh?

I've been to several countries (not a ton, but enough to know) that I would keep my US citizenship forever!

I only have an AAS degree and I know that nothing can be proven as "best", especially when it comes to Nations. Hell some might still think that the communism China has is wonderful so they might call it the best form of governing, so best is only a personal adjective based on your own criteria for what makes what better...

Originally Posted by viet_jon

I'd like to take my stab at this.

No one with a slight bit of education would tell you China is the best country. Living condition, freedom, death penalty.....to name a few are among the worst in the world.

My guess is as good as any's.....

but I think what that teacher was saying is China will be the next powerhouse country. Your brother is 10 years old, it's not uncommon for ten year olds to misunderstand what people tell them.

That is kind of what I was thinking too. China's economy is on the up and up. Soon they will be as powerful as we are if they continue on their current path and we continue on ours. They are getting stronger and we are getting lazier.

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

The irony of that story is that America is a country where he can get away with saying things like that. And, its not the best?

In theory, the teacher is kinda right. 60% of all adult Americans are over weight and about 30% are obese. Thats much worse than anywhere else in the world. America has some pretty bad crime statistics too and I'd be here all day if I even started to list them.

Uhh....I'd rather live in a country full of obese fuckers, than in a starving country like 90% of African societies.

Originally Posted by Brachiisaurus

Uhh....I'd rather live in a country full of obese fuckers, than in a starving country like 90% of African societies.

I second that. The US is pretty cool. I would rather live here than most other places.

The only thing that gets on my nerves is the constant were number one bullshit! The patriotic crap coming from the right just to stew up support so they can fuck us in the ass a little bit more. Sure, the US is great, but lets not be fooled into thinking we are perfect, just so certain people can take advantage of us.

Originally Posted by Brachiisaurus

Uhh....I'd rather live in a country full of obese fuckers, than in a starving country like 90% of African societies.

You're not exactly one to leave food on the plate. Or should I say foliage on the tree.

Originally Posted by KelJu

That is kind of what I was thinking too. China's economy is on the up and up. Soon they will be as powerful as we are if they continue on their current path and we continue on ours. They are getting stronger and we are getting lazier.

I've been running thoughts through my head for a long time about how Rome fell because it started to depend on imported goods more than domestic goods, it's per capita productivity had become so low, and the taxation of the wealthiest was being evaded so much it was dependent on it's middle and lower class for taxes. The barbarians had started to notice how well the Romans lived so they came in flocks to get their share of the pie (think Mexico), then think of how Christianity had suddenly taken Rome by the throat, how Constantinople was worried more about wars in the middle east than in Roman Italy's borders....I mean things are starting to look so familiar it's scary...also think about our dependence on foreign oil, yikes it's frightening!!!!

Originally Posted by BigDyl

You're not exactly one to leave food on the plate. Or should I say foliage on the tree.

You folks ever notice how a brontosaurus looks like a sock puppet.

Originally Posted by maniclion

I've been running thoughts through my head for a long time about how Rome fell because it started to depend on imported goods more than domestic goods, it's per capita productivity had become so low, and the taxation of the wealthiest was being evaded so much it was dependent on it's middle and lower class for taxes. The barbarians had started to notice how well the Romans lived so they came in flocks to get their share of the pie (think Mexico), then think of how Christianity had suddenly taken Rome by the throat, how Constantinople was worried more about wars in the middle east than in Roman Italy's borders....I mean things are starting to look so familiar it's scary...also think about our dependence on foreign oil, yikes it's frightening!!!!

I agree. You and I can pull up a chair and watch the nation go down the shitter watching history repeat itself.

Originally Posted by KelJu

You folks ever notice how a brontosaurus looks like a sock puppet.

Uh oh, you just hurt his feelings, he's a brachiiasaurus. But yeah, brach is pretty much equivillent to a prehistoric sock puppet anyways.