Greatest country in the world my ass

America has a lot going for it. I'd choose to live in America over
many countries.

But I keep bumping into Americans who claim that "America is the
best", "the greatest",
"the freest", "the most democratic", "the most advanced", or that
"America beats the world at everything". Why do so many Americans
believe this?
Can they back up such bold claims with hard evidence?

To answer this, I've tried to compile a few world rankings from a wide
range of sources.
The truth is that America rarely makes it into the top five, let alone
number one.
Don't get me wrong. America does pretty well in all international
comparisons, but that does NOT mean it's THE BEST. There are quite a
few countries that are - at least - as great as
America.

But instead of trying to learn from those countries in an effort to
beat them, millions of
Americans choose to believe in a delusion of grandeur and
invincibility. This kind of blind
patriotism is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness,
complacency, and ingnorance
(how many who make this claim have actually heard of the countries on
the list below,
let alone travelled there?).



USA Rankings on
--------------------------------------------

Adult Literacy Scale: 9
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - OECD

Democracy Index: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - The Economist Magazine

Democracy Audit: 15
(1:Finland 2enmark) - World Audit

Index of Economic Freedom: 9
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Heritage Foundation/ Wall Street
Journal

Economic Freedom in the World: 5
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Frasier Institute

Competitiveness Index: 6
(1:Switzerland 2:Finland) - World Economic Forum

Journalistic Press Freedom Index: 32
(1:Finland 2:Norway and Netherlands tied) - Reporters without Borders

Global Press Freedom Rankings: 24
(1:Finland/Sweden/Iceland tied) - Freedom House

Human Development Index: 10
(1:Norway 2:Iceland) - UN

Quality of Life Survey: 13
(1:Ireland 2:Switzerland) - The Economist Magazine

Wealth Ranking (GDP(PPP) per capita): 3
(1:Ireland 2:Norway) - International Monetary Fund

Healthcare Quality Index: 37
(1:France 2:Italy) - WHO

Human Poverty Index: 16
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - UN

Student Reading Ability: 12
(1:Finland 2:South Korea) - OECD PISA

Student Problem Solving Ability: 26
(1:South Korea 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Mathematics Ability: 24
(1:Hong Kong 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Science Ability: 19
(1:Finland 2:Japan) - OECD PISA

Broadband Internet Penetration Rate: 12
(1:Korea 2:Netherlands) - OECD 2005

Index of Technological Achievement: 2
(1:Finland 3:Sweden) - Nation Master

Political Corruption Index: 17
(1:Iceland 2:Finland) - Transparency International

Productivity (GDP(PPP) per hour worked): 4
(1:Norway 2:France) - University of Groningen

Environmental Sustainability Index: 45
(1:Finland 2:Norway) - Yale University ESI 2005

Life Expectancy: 29
(1:Japan 2:Hong Kong) - UN Human Development Report

Infant Mortality Rate: 32
(1:Sweden 2:Finland) - Save the Children

Mother's Index: 26
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - Save the Children

Children's Index: 30
(1:Norway 2:Sweden) - Save the Children

Women's Rights Scale: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - World Economic Report

Timeline of Gay Rights Progress: 6
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - Vexen

Privacy Index: 30
(1:Germany 2:Canada) - Privacy International

Subjective Well-Being Index: 15
(1:Puerto Rico 2:Mexico) - University of Michigan's World Values
Surveys

Cambrasa wrote:
America has a lot going for it. I'd choose to live in America over
many countries.

But I keep bumping into Americans who claim that "America is the
best", "the greatest", "the freest", "the most democratic", "the most advanced", or that
"America beats the world at everything". Why do so many Americans
believe this?

Hi,

as an old friend (a judge) used to claim "99% of the population is stupid."

you have to remember most US nationals have never left the country.

even fewer have a passport.

we ARE the best at some things... but not all.

Can they back up such bold claims with hard evidence?

of course not...

To answer this, I've tried to compile a few world rankings from a wide
range of sources.
The truth is that America rarely makes it into the top five, let alone
number one.
Don't get me wrong. America does pretty well in all international
comparisons, but that does NOT mean it's THE BEST. There are quite a
few countries that are - at least - as great as
America.

But instead of trying to learn from those countries in an effort to
beat them, millions of
Americans choose to believe in a delusion of grandeur and
invincibility. This kind of blind
patriotism is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness,
complacency, and ingnorance
(how many who make this claim have actually heard of the countries on
the list below,
let alone travelled there?).



USA Rankings on
--------------------------------------------

Adult Literacy Scale: 9
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - OECD

if we only had to base that on those of european descent it'd be much
higher.

Democracy Index: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - The Economist Magazine

Democracy Audit: 15
(1:Finland 2enmark) - World Audit

the US is NOT a democracy... it doesn't even pretend to be.

Competitiveness Index: 6
(1:Switzerland 2:Finland) - World Economic Forum

interesting... I just wonder how they calculate something like that.

Healthcare Quality Index: 37
(1:France 2:Italy) - WHO

the US healthcare SYSTEM is horrible... the technology that's available
here is wonderful.

Student Problem Solving Ability: 26
(1:South Korea 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Mathematics Ability: 24
(1:Hong Kong 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Science Ability: 19
(1:Finland 2:Japan) - OECD PISA

I was an adult college student... and while chatting with a engineering
professor about the relative abilities of the students in her classes
she noted that a lot of them "couldn't program their way out of a paperbag."

logic isn't really prized anymore... it's all about "feelings"....

Broadband Internet Penetration Rate: 12
(1:Korea 2:Netherlands) - OECD 2005

it's a big place.

Life Expectancy: 29
(1:Japan 2:Hong Kong) - UN Human Development Report

this is almost expected... the US governments would rather have HIV
infected junkies robbing/hooking to support their habits than either do
sterile needle exchanges or give out methadone...

"Cambrasa" wrote in message
ups.com...
America has a lot going for it. I'd choose to live in America over
many countries.

But I keep bumping into Americans who claim that "America is the
best", "the greatest",
"the freest", "the most democratic", "the most advanced", or that
"America beats the world at everything". Why do so many Americans
believe this?
Can they back up such bold claims with hard evidence?

To answer this, I've tried to compile a few world rankings from a wide
range of sources.
The truth is that America rarely makes it into the top five, let alone
number one.
Don't get me wrong. America does pretty well in all international
comparisons, but that does NOT mean it's THE BEST. There are quite a
few countries that are - at least - as great as
America.

But instead of trying to learn from those countries in an effort to
beat them, millions of
Americans choose to believe in a delusion of grandeur and
invincibility. This kind of blind
patriotism is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness,
complacency, and ingnorance
(how many who make this claim have actually heard of the countries on
the list below,
let alone travelled there?).



USA Rankings on
--------------------------------------------

Adult Literacy Scale: 9
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - OECD

Democracy Index: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - The Economist Magazine

Democracy Audit: 15
(1:Finland 2enmark) - World Audit

Index of Economic Freedom: 9
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Heritage Foundation/ Wall Street
Journal

Economic Freedom in the World: 5
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Frasier Institute

Competitiveness Index: 6
(1:Switzerland 2:Finland) - World Economic Forum

Journalistic Press Freedom Index: 32
(1:Finland 2:Norway and Netherlands tied) - Reporters without Borders

Global Press Freedom Rankings: 24
(1:Finland/Sweden/Iceland tied) - Freedom House

Human Development Index: 10
(1:Norway 2:Iceland) - UN

Quality of Life Survey: 13
(1:Ireland 2:Switzerland) - The Economist Magazine

Wealth Ranking (GDP(PPP) per capita): 3
(1:Ireland 2:Norway) - International Monetary Fund

Healthcare Quality Index: 37
(1:France 2:Italy) - WHO

Human Poverty Index: 16
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - UN

Student Reading Ability: 12
(1:Finland 2:South Korea) - OECD PISA

Student Problem Solving Ability: 26
(1:South Korea 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Mathematics Ability: 24
(1:Hong Kong 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Science Ability: 19
(1:Finland 2:Japan) - OECD PISA

Broadband Internet Penetration Rate: 12
(1:Korea 2:Netherlands) - OECD 2005

Index of Technological Achievement: 2
(1:Finland 3:Sweden) - Nation Master

Political Corruption Index: 17
(1:Iceland 2:Finland) - Transparency International

Productivity (GDP(PPP) per hour worked): 4
(1:Norway 2:France) - University of Groningen

Environmental Sustainability Index: 45
(1:Finland 2:Norway) - Yale University ESI 2005

Life Expectancy: 29
(1:Japan 2:Hong Kong) - UN Human Development Report

Infant Mortality Rate: 32
(1:Sweden 2:Finland) - Save the Children

Mother's Index: 26
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - Save the Children

Children's Index: 30
(1:Norway 2:Sweden) - Save the Children

Women's Rights Scale: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - World Economic Report

Timeline of Gay Rights Progress: 6
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - Vexen

Privacy Index: 30
(1:Germany 2:Canada) - Privacy International

Subjective Well-Being Index: 15
(1:Puerto Rico 2:Mexico) - University of Michigan's World Values
Surveys


Well, to be fair to the USians, they have a far greater population over
which to bring up those averages! It's rather easier to 'control' the
smaller nations - few large population nations therefore appear in the above
tables.

Nevertheless, the Scandinavians (and, for me, the Dutch) have therefore been
able to evolve very attractive lifestyles - if, probably, too 'socialist'
for USians, another 'defect' of 'control'. And shame about their climates!

But these are averages. The individual, depending on personal situation,
could probably achieve Shangrila in whichever reasonably well-run nation of
choice, including many other variables such as cost-of-living, climate,
scenery, activities etc., etc.

Indeed, I am currently in the process of such selection, and I'm afraid it
won't be to chillier climes, whatever the other attributes!

Surreyman

On Oct 30, 11:00 am, "a.spencer3" wrote:
"Cambrasa" wrote in message

ups.com...



America has a lot going for it. I'd choose to live in America over
many countries.

But I keep bumping into Americans who claim that "America is the
best", "the greatest",
"the freest", "the most democratic", "the most advanced", or that
"America beats the world at everything". Why do so many Americans
believe this?
Can they back up such bold claims with hard evidence?

To answer this, I've tried to compile a few world rankings from a wide
range of sources.
The truth is that America rarely makes it into the top five, let alone
number one.
Don't get me wrong. America does pretty well in all international
comparisons, but that does NOT mean it's THE BEST. There are quite a
few countries that are - at least - as great as
America.

But instead of trying to learn from those countries in an effort to
beat them, millions of
Americans choose to believe in a delusion of grandeur and
invincibility. This kind of blind
patriotism is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness,
complacency, and ingnorance
(how many who make this claim have actually heard of the countries on
the list below,
let alone travelled there?).

USA Rankings on
--------------------------------------------

Adult Literacy Scale: 9
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - OECD

Democracy Index: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - The Economist Magazine

Democracy Audit: 15
(1:Finland 2enmark) - World Audit

Index of Economic Freedom: 9
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Heritage Foundation/ Wall Street
Journal

Economic Freedom in the World: 5
(1:Hong Kong 2:Singapore) - The Frasier Institute

Competitiveness Index: 6
(1:Switzerland 2:Finland) - World Economic Forum

Journalistic Press Freedom Index: 32
(1:Finland 2:Norway and Netherlands tied) - Reporters without Borders

Global Press Freedom Rankings: 24
(1:Finland/Sweden/Iceland tied) - Freedom House

Human Development Index: 10
(1:Norway 2:Iceland) - UN

Quality of Life Survey: 13
(1:Ireland 2:Switzerland) - The Economist Magazine

Wealth Ranking (GDP(PPP) per capita): 3
(1:Ireland 2:Norway) - International Monetary Fund

Healthcare Quality Index: 37
(1:France 2:Italy) - WHO

Human Poverty Index: 16
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - UN

Student Reading Ability: 12
(1:Finland 2:South Korea) - OECD PISA

Student Problem Solving Ability: 26
(1:South Korea 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Mathematics Ability: 24
(1:Hong Kong 2:Finland) - OECD PISA

Student Science Ability: 19
(1:Finland 2:Japan) - OECD PISA

Broadband Internet Penetration Rate: 12
(1:Korea 2:Netherlands) - OECD 2005

Index of Technological Achievement: 2
(1:Finland 3:Sweden) - Nation Master

Political Corruption Index: 17
(1:Iceland 2:Finland) - Transparency International

Productivity (GDP(PPP) per hour worked): 4
(1:Norway 2:France) - University of Groningen

Environmental Sustainability Index: 45
(1:Finland 2:Norway) - Yale University ESI 2005

Life Expectancy: 29
(1:Japan 2:Hong Kong) - UN Human Development Report

Infant Mortality Rate: 32
(1:Sweden 2:Finland) - Save the Children

Mother's Index: 26
(1:Sweden 2:Iceland) - Save the Children

Children's Index: 30
(1:Norway 2:Sweden) - Save the Children

Women's Rights Scale: 17
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - World Economic Report

Timeline of Gay Rights Progress: 6
(1:Sweden 2:Norway) - Vexen

Privacy Index: 30
(1:Germany 2:Canada) - Privacy International

Subjective Well-Being Index: 15
(1:Puerto Rico 2:Mexico) - University of Michigan's World Values
Surveys

Well, to be fair to the USians, they have a far greater population over
which to bring up those averages! It's rather easier to 'control' the
smaller nations - few large population nations therefore appear in the above
tables.

Nevertheless, the Scandinavians (and, for me, the Dutch) have therefore been
able to evolve very attractive lifestyles - if, probably, too 'socialist'
for USians, another 'defect' of 'control'. And shame about their climates!

But these are averages. The individual, depending on personal situation,
could probably achieve Shangrila in whichever reasonably well-run nation of
choice, including many other variables such as cost-of-living, climate,
scenery, activities etc., etc.

Indeed, I am currently in the process of such selection, and I'm afraid it
won't be to chillier climes, whatever the other attributes!

Surreyman

That is a good point. I wonder what if individual US states would make
it into number one on those comparisons I've made.

But even then America is not the best at EVERYTHING and there is a
thing or two it could learn from other nations - like they have
learned from America.

Alfred Molon wrote:
In article , Anonymouse
says...

you have to remember most US nationals have never left the country.

even fewer have a passport.

Is this true? Are there any statistics about this?

snip

I was an adult college student... and while chatting with a engineering
professor about the relative abilities of the students in her classes
she noted that a lot of them "couldn't program their way out of a paperbag."

Strange. You are supposed to have the best universities in the world.

in some fields we seem to have the best universities in the world...
they attract top notch students from all over the world at the graduate
level.

but I was talking about the "average" state college and an "average"
bunch of 2nd year 20 year old engineering students.

you have to remember most US nationals have never left the country.

even fewer have a passport.
Is this true? Are there any statistics about this?

http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2...ny_america.php

lots of statistics... but few hard answers.

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
In article , a.spencer3 says...

Well, to be fair to the USians, they have a far greater population over
which to bring up those averages! It's rather easier to 'control' the
smaller nations - few large population nations therefore appear in the
above
tables.

Maybe if you didn't spend so much money on meaningless wars, you'd have
more funds to improve the living standards.
--

Er ... I ain't USian!

Surreyman

"a.spencer3" kirjoitti
...

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
In article , a.spencer3 says...

Well, to be fair to the USians, they have a far greater population over
which to bring up those averages! It's rather easier to 'control' the
smaller nations - few large population nations therefore appear in the
above
tables.

Maybe if you didn't spend so much money on meaningless wars, you'd have
more funds to improve the living standards.
--

Er ... I ain't USian!

If this forum is of any indication then I guess mental illnesses are treated
in the USA in tepees by medicine men

"Cambrasa" wrote in message Can they back up
such bold claims with hard evidence?

That is a good point. I wonder what if individual US states would make
it into number one on those comparisons I've made.

But even then America is not the best at EVERYTHING and there is a
thing or two it could learn from other nations - like they have
learned from America.


You apparently started this thread to stir up animosity...No one is best at
everything and everyone should be proud of and loyal to the country of their
birth.
I doubt you are running into all these Americans who are claiming they are
the best at everything.. We (all countries) have our good and bad points.

BTW, I though this was a newsgroup with information about Europe.

--Jean

On Oct 29, 5:18 pm, Cambrasa wrote:
America has a lot going for it. I'd choose to live in America over
many countries.

But I keep bumping into Americans who claim that "America is the
best", "the greatest",
"the freest", "the most democratic", "the most advanced", or that
"America beats the world at everything". Why do so many Americans
believe this?
Can they back up such bold claims with hard evidence?

First of all, to them it's the greatest country in the world. It has
nothing to do with statistics or "hard evidence". It has to do with
personal feelings.

Second, it's possible that whenever a system (religion, country,
region, etc.) is under pressure from the outside, the people in that
system develops more of a fanaticism about that system. This happens
often in history. American now perceives itself as under outside
attack, from Al Queda, Chinese imports, or illegal immigrants. Thus
an increase in self boosting is expected.

And America is not the only country where citizens think they are the
best in the world. On a recent trip to China I found that a lot of
the sites are labeled the "Number One under the sky". So you'll begin
to see a lot of boosterism coming out of China from now forward.