The Delusion Behind “America Is the Greatest Country on Earth” A deep dive into the question: If America is so great, why

[Content Provider]

I did leave it but only because my social security payments don't allow me to afford to retire there.

And where did you go, 'fella'?

 

[Content Provider]

It's where the vast majority of people from poor countries would move to if they could,

So you apparently base your itinerary on where the poor people go. Good choice.

 

[Content Provider]

Typical capitalist thinking.

"quality of life, income potential, unemployment, safety/peaceful, quality healthcare"

Me, me, me. Ever stop to think of someone else?

 

[mc kenna]

Typical capitalist thinking.

But you gotta pay the bills. You speak as if capitalist thinking is a bad thing. Unfortunately most people need to fund their life not just for today or tomorrow but for the next few decades. There are only so many countries where there is good potential for that.

Nobody? Seems like many are.

What are your favorite countries you think are better than the US? Inquiring minds want to know.

And where did you go, 'fella'?

I am here in Argentina. Quality of life is good in the rural small town areas. Cheaper than Buenos Aires. I don't need much. But if I had enough money I would be back in Colorado closer to my kids and grandkids.

 

[CraigM]

Nobody? Seems like many are.

Nobody. I mean no disrespect but you're inventing straw men to manufacture some kind of argument that you can win, or at least save a little face. There's nothing there.

 

[CraigM]

So you apparently base your itinerary on where the poor people go. Good choice.

"quality of life, income potential, unemployment, safety/peaceful, quality healthcare"

Me, me, me. Ever stop to think of someone else?

Same thing here, you're inventing boogeymen to try save face.

 

[VINO]

Nobody. I mean no disrespect but you're inventing straw men to manufacture some kind of argument that you can win, or at least save a little face. There's nothing there.

The fact that he can't even come up with an objective list of countries he thinks are much better than the USA. Probably because once he does people will point out all the problems with that country. Every country has good and bad things. Much of the world is in chaos. Broken systems, worse political situations than ours in the US, terrible banking systems, no working laws, rampant corruption, high inflation, wars, dangerous, bad educational system and a million other things.

Jerry what are some of these mysterious countries that you think are so much better than America? This isn't a trick question.

 

[Avocado]

I love my country. Argentina is wonderful. My grandparents came here to make a better life and they found it. But the Argentina of today can't compare to what it once was.

I will say Argentina is a wonderful country and I am proud of it. But I am as ashamed of many things here. When I travel outside of Argentina I see everything work well. Here that is not the same. If you make a list of best things Argentina will fail on many levels and now our President lies, cheats, steals and corruption. It was always like that. But now some look the other way.

 

[Dick]

Nobody is claiming the US is better than everybody at absolutely everything. But it is the best country overall. It's where the vast majority of people from poor countries would move to if they could, I don't know how you even dispute that. It's a losing argument and you're grasping at straws.

Not even sure how this is a debate!

Look at the world. Look at the chaos and instability. The lack of opportunities. Hard to believe there is any debate but to each his own.

I love my country. Argentina is wonderful. My grandparents came here to make a better life and they found it. But the Argentina of today can't compare to what it once was.

I will say Argentina is a wonderful country and I am proud of it. But I am as ashamed of many things here. When I travel outside of Argentina I see everything work well. Here that is not the same. If you make a list of best things Argentina will fail on many levels and now our President lies, cheats, steals and corruption. It was always like that. But now some look the other way.

But to be fair Avocado the previous Presidents were even worse than Milei. Looking at Cristina and her in house arrest look at the looting she did!

I know this administration has their own scandals but it seems to pale in comparison.

I know a wrong is a wrong and it is true there could be much worse out there that we don't know about. He has only been in office 2 years.

I had high hopes but it might turn out that he is like the others.

 

[Avocado]

Not even sure how this is a debate!

Look at the world. Look at the chaos and instability. The lack of opportunities. Hard to believe there is any debate but to each his own.

But to be fair Avocado the previous Presidents were even worse than Milei. Looking at Cristina and her in house arrest look at the looting she did!

I know this administration has their own scandals but it seems to pale in comparison.

I know a wrong is a wrong and it is true there could be much worse out there that we don't know about. He has only been in office 2 years.

I had high hopes but it might turn out that he is like the others.

There is a lot of corruption all over the place. You can't say Milei is better than Cristina. You don't know and everyday more and more comes out. LLA is using Banco la Nacion to give out mortgages to anyone that be useful and all their family members. Even ones that don't have any good job. They aren't doing this with other normal people out there. Look and see and you will see more corruption daily.

 

[Content Provider]

Nobody. I mean no disrespect but you're inventing straw men to manufacture some kind of argument that you can win, or at least save a little face. There's nothing there.

I just guess you haven't read much of this forum. Shall I start flagging them so you know they're not 'straw men'?

 

[Uncle Wong]

"quality of life, income potential, unemployment, safety/peaceful, quality healthcare"

Me, me, me. Ever stop to think of someone else?

But what are YOUR measurements Jerry? What are the best countries you think are better than the US? I genuinely want to know. What metrics do you think are the most important? I agree money isn't everything but unfortunately it takes money to survive no matter which country you end up in. I think that is more or less the point why so many risk everything to get to America. Isn't it?

 

[Content Provider]

What metrics do you think are the most important?

Human rights issure are the most important to me.

 

[CraigM]

Human rights issure are the most important to me.

And what else? You can't base it on just one criteria, this isn't a virtue signaling exercise 🙂

 

[Bingo]

Human rights issure are the most important to me.

OK so what are the best countries for human rights? What does this mean? What is your definition? Hard to base the best place to live based on human rights. Are human rights bad in the US? I'm confused.

 

[Content Provider]

Are human rights bad in the US?

No, human rights are not "bad" in the US overall, though the country faces documented challenges and criticisms in specific areas. The US ranks moderately high on global indices for civil liberties but lags in issues like incarceration and immigration enforcement.

Global Rankings​

The US scores 83/100 on Freedom House's civil and political rights index (59th out of 210) and is classified as a "flawed democracy" by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Press freedom places it 55th out of 180 per Reporters Without Borders. These metrics show strengths in democratic institutions but highlight erosion in areas like racial justice and inequality.

Key Criticisms​

Amnesty International notes ongoing issues like arbitrary detention at Guantánamo (26 detainees as of 2024) and asylum restrictions exposing migrants to violence. Human Rights Watch criticizes mass incarceration, excessive police force, and Trump's second-term policies on immigration raids and free speech suppression. UN bodies have flagged failures in racial justice, abortion access, and solitary confinement in detention.

 

[Finance Prof]

No, human rights are not "bad" in the US overall, though the country faces documented challenges and criticisms in specific areas. The US ranks moderately high on global indices for civil liberties but lags in issues like incarceration and immigration enforcement.

Global Rankings​

The US scores 83/100 on Freedom House's civil and political rights index (59th out of 210) and is classified as a "flawed democracy" by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Press freedom places it 55th out of 180 per Reporters Without Borders. These metrics show strengths in democratic institutions but highlight erosion in areas like racial justice and inequality.

Key Criticisms​

Amnesty International notes ongoing issues like arbitrary detention at Guantánamo (26 detainees as of 2024) and asylum restrictions exposing migrants to violence. Human Rights Watch criticizes mass incarceration, excessive police force, and Trump's second-term policies on immigration raids and free speech suppression. UN bodies have flagged failures in racial justice, abortion access, and solitary confinement in detention.

Why is human rights the most important thing to you? Did someone take about your human rights?

 

[Content Provider]

Did someone take about your human rights?

Did someone take about your human rights? WTF is 'take about'???