America is NOT the greatest country in the world anymore

[Master slacker]

Food for thought and I agree with the video below. The USA really is no longer the greatest country in the world. The potential is there. It really is, but arrogance needs to make way for realization and an actual path to solutions. What say you?

[media]http://youtu.be/VMqcLUqYqrs

 

[Road Guy]

+1

Success comes before work, only in the dictionary...

 

[mudpuppy]

While I agree with the point that we may not be the same as we were, I disagree that we're no longer the greatest country. If we're not, then which one is? It's not in Eurpoe, look at their economy. It's not China, look at their government and human rights issues, it's not India--they're still stuck in poverty.

I think you're hard pressed to find a better country, so yes, the USA is stll the best country in the world. We are not what we were, no. Is there work to do? Of course. "Worst. Generation. Ever."? Hell, no! Every generation has said that about the proceeding generation. Yeah we face challenges. But this country has faced challenges from the beginning. It is exactly this kind of adversity that makes us stronger We've overcome our problems for two centuries. ****, we survived a civil war. Do you REALLY think we're in worse shape now than we were in 1860?

Put it in perspective.

I think it's human nature to idealize the past, but to look at today with a defeatist attitude does not help at all. And it's certainly not the American Way.

 

[benbo]

I don't really even know what it means to be the "greatest" country in the world. Isn't that subjective? I guess it depends on how you define it, and what's important to you.

I've been to a lot of countries, and spent a good deal of time working in several on three continents. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but that's just me I suppose.

I do know that my wife's family from Peru would give their left nuts to live here (at least the part of her family who have nuts), over anyplace else. Buit again, anecdotal evidence I suppose.

 

[Freon]

Those of you who have traveled/worked overseas can back me up on this.

With VERY FEW exceptions, you go to any country in the world and on any given Monday morning there is a line of people waiting to get into the US Embassy, and to a lesser extent the UK/Commonwealth embassies, to apply for immigration. You don't see alot of lines at other embassies.

 

[Master slacker]

For what reasons would someone from another country want to come here? Would it be the free healthcare, money, food? Would it be for the endless benefits we hand out for those who aren't successful? Or is it the endless supply of high pay jobs and technologically based jobs that lend to prosperity?

 

[mudpuppy]

Maybe it's access to clean drinking water? 24/7 electricity? Roads and bridges that aren't washed out?

So many things we take for granted around here and them bitch and moan about how bad we have it. Try visiting some of these places.

 

[Master slacker]

The stinger is that there are LOTS of places in Europe and South America and elsewhere with the same cleanliness. Yet those people still choose to come here. Why?

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

they all want the luxury of being able to blame Bush for everything too...

 

[ElCid03]

Running and clean water, electricity that does not go out several times a day, public education, roads not filled with buried explosives, freedom from the fear of the secret police kicking in your door at 0300 because your mother spoke out against the government. The ability to access government services without paying bribes. Our foreign policy is not perfect but we didn't ask to take the world stage is was pushed upon us by converging events.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Running and clean water, electricity that does not go out several times a day, public education, roads not filled with buried explosives, freedom from the fear of the secret police kicking in your door at 0300 because your mother spoke out against the government. The ability to access government services without paying bribes. Our foreign policy is not perfect but we didn't ask to take the world stage is was pushed upon us by converging events.

QFT.

People who say we aren't the greatest country in the world have no clue as to what's going on outside their own little world.

I bizzitch about the government a LOT, but even I realize that overall it has been a very effective government compared to much else I see when I take a look around.

 

[Master slacker]

Y'all are making me sound as if I don't like this country. We used to be the top of the food chain when it came to technology and innovation. Space exploration et. al inspired people to do great things and strive for better. What, in the past 20 years, has inspired the people (i.e. children) to do great things?

We have awful public education system. Health care is pretty good, but damn it's expensive. Running and clean water, reliable electricity, education, roads, etc... are all fine and dandy, but don't England, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, S. Korea, Japan, Finland, etc... have the same? I may never have been to Germany, Sweden, Japan, Australia, or S. Korea, but I know several people who live or have lived there, and they don't worry about an 0300 wake up call.

For those who believe our education system plays no factor in the awesomeness equation, say so. To me, it is HUGE. In a couple of years, I'll most likely be plunking down $5k / year per child to get a good education. On top of this, I'll be paying taxes to support the less than adequate public school system here. For every child I send to school (private), I'm basically paying for two children (1 public and 1 private). Is that right???

Bribes... who in their right mind thinks even their local governments are clean?

People honestly need to realize that we're accepting our current performance as "good enough". Do you really believe this is good enough?

 

[Kephart P.E.]

I live in Portland Oregon, a veritable bastion of liberal/communist/socialist thought and funny thing is, regarding education the prevailing thoughts are downright Republican.

Our PDX public schools are not good at all, for a variety of reasons, but the main issue standing in the way of fixing them is that the Teachers Union is quite strong and the crappy school situation has gone on for a couple of decades now.

The solution which the private sector.. has fixed (for some) is most parents send their kids to private school, at least those that can afford it.

I will be joining them. While I wish we could fix the problem for everyone, I am not making my son pay that price.

 

[maryannette]

:unitedstates:

I cannot think of any other country I want to live in, therefore, in my opinion, USA is the greatest country in the world.

I also believe that anyone who thinks there is a better country should move to it.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

The problem real with the education system isn't lack of funding, poor teachers, top heavy administrations, teacher's unions, etc, etc. These are issues, sure, but not the real problem.

The real problem with education is children who come to school ill-prepared and/or unwilling to learn.

That's a societal problem, not a political one.

 

[rktman]

That was a great speech by a great actor....

But this is precisely the **** sandwich we are half way through now. (Voting for & believing in an actor giving a well prepared speech)

Like many, I haven't been to other countries, so I can't say we are the best - but I will work to make it the best that I can. Recent dealings with border towns near Mexico make me thankful for what we have.

BTW, We need to remove media from the equation if anything will ever get done again.

 

[Master slacker]

:unitedstates:

I cannot think of any other country I want to live in, therefore, in my opinion, USA is the greatest country in the world.

I also believe that anyone who thinks there is a better country should move to it.

That's not the point of why I posted the video. We (the USA ) used to be THE automakers, THE space explorers, THE dreamers... Now, right now, we pander to the mediocre and ignore the great. I've always loved learning. I was inspired by people to learn and dream of great things and to make myself as great as I can be - minus the spamming of EB, of course.

Maybe I'm a sucker. Maybe I'm easily influenced by others with their neat graphics and cool voices. But I've been watching NOVA programs (now and as a kid) and seen videos by Neil deGrasse Tyson that make me think, "How have we arrived here (today) from there (1980'ish)?". Few people dream nowadays. Look at the lack of interest in math and science in the education system from preschool through college. Few people care about this difficult path through education.

When 6 year olds think "engineering", what job do you think they envision? How about "math"? "physics"? "chemistry"?

Do kids care?

 

[envirotex]

Higgs Boson.

/>http://www.texastribune.org/texas-taxes/budget/higgs-boson-discovery-may-have-been-possible-texas/

 

[Capt Worley PE]

:unitedstates:

I cannot think of any other country I want to live in, therefore, in my opinion, USA is the greatest country in the world.

I also believe that anyone who thinks there is a better country should move to it.

That's not the point of why I posted the video. We (the USA ) used to be THE automakers, THE space explorers, THE dreamers... Now, right now, we pander to the mediocre and ignore the great. I've always loved learning. I was inspired by people to learn and dream of great things and to make myself as great as I can be - minus the spamming of EB, of course.

Maybe I'm a sucker. Maybe I'm easily influenced by others with their neat graphics and cool voices. But I've been watching NOVA programs (now and as a kid) and seen videos by Neil deGrasse Tyson that make me think, "How have we arrived here (today) from there (1980'ish)?". Few people dream nowadays. Look at the lack of interest in math and science in the education system from preschool through college. Few people care about this difficult path through education.

When 6 year olds think "engineering", what job do you think they envision? How about "math"? "physics"? "chemistry"?

Do kids care?

You've fallen into the trap of the media telling you how awful things are. Good news doesn't sell.

Things are better than they used to be. Much better in cases.

Do we have problems; yeah, we do. But worrying about whether or not kids care is definitely a first world problem.

 

[IlPadrino]

I also believe that anyone who thinks there is a better country should move to it.

And if I believe there's a better car than the one I currently drive, does that mean I should buy it?