We as Americans, think that we have our lives pretty good. We feel that as we call ourselves, a part of the “Greatest Country in the World.” How? How can we be a part of the “Greatest Nation in the World” if we are so far behind all the other countries in the world in so many aspects and areas. What happened to us? What happened to America trying to be so great and free? How can we get us back in that direction?
Before we get into how we aren’t the greatest country, what classifies a country to be the greatest in the world? According to OECD, (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), they classify what it takes to be a great nations on a few values where we aren’t doing so well in. This organization only has records and statistics for 34 participating countries. Nevertheless, we only do best between them all in one category. We place second in the category of money and wealth, behind Luxembourg. The other three categories are: Land of Opportunity, where we placed twelfth, Joy of Life, where we placed sixteenth, and Safety, where we placed twenty-eighth. (4) To make a country great, it takes a combination of things and the hard work of that nation. A few major things a growing country would need to become great, are: a solid economy, a sound society, good leadership, and the will of the people, to name a few. Each of these things that are needed have many finer points below them that all work towards their main goal.
Yet these fine points speak loudly for what they have to show. America only is the top nation in two areas compared to the rest of the world. The first one is how many incarcerated citizens per capita, and the second thing we do best, is how much we spend on our defenses. We have a defense budget tha...
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...usinessinsider.com/here-are-25-more-signs-that-america-is-not-1-2012-6
(4.) “. N.p.. Web. 13 Nov 2013.” http://www.gmfus.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files_mf//galleries/ct_news_article_attachments/OECD_Better_Life_Index.pdf
(5.) "How We're Doing Compared to the Rest of the World." The Brookings Institution. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/02/13-recovery-renewal
(6.) Woessmann, L. n. page. http://educationnext.org/whystudentsinsomecountriesdobetter/
(7.) SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/depression/context.html
(8.) "Show This To Anyone That Believes That “Things Are Getting Better” In America." The Economic Collapse. N.p., n.d. 17 Nov. 2013. http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/show-this-to-anyone-that-believes-that-things-are-getting-better-in-america
For the past century, the United States has been regarded as the greatest hegemonic power in the world. The U.S. played the most important role in the advancement of mankind from social, political, scientific, military, and economic standpoint. Unfortunately, today this is no longer true. Since the 1980’s the U.S. has been on a gradual decline. The introduction and implementation of trickle down economics, otherwise known as “Reaganomics,” has contributed greatly to the systemic dismantling of the socioeconomic structure that made America great.
Waggoner, John. "Is Today's Economic Crisis Another Great Depression?" USA Today. N.p., 4 Nov. 2008. Web. 7 Mar. 2014.
Obama begins by acknowledging that progress has been made. There are “six million new jobs… we buy more American cars than we have in five years, and less foreign oil than we have in 20” (Obama). His assurances suggest that the United States economy is recovering and making large strides toward bouncing back from the recession. This starts things off in a positive direction and inspires pride that our nation is on the path to economic recovery. Afterward, he explains that many Americans’ “hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded” (Obama), because many Americans cannot attain full-time employment. He emphasizes the fact that those in the top one percent income bracket are enjoying the highest profits while lower incomes haven’t increased much at all in over a decade. This appeals to the working class who feel it’s unfair that their hard work goes unrewarded.
...United States once had amongst the world has lessened, which is also why seeing America as an ideal country would be thwarting a realistic view of the country. If the United States just takes a step back from trying to be the most dominant country, it can regain its status among other nations.
The United States is not the greatest country in the world. However, for a very long time, people have believed that the United States tops the list. This is because of the classic lifestyle and technological advancements portrayed in our daily media. The United States is portrayed as a country of peace and optimum harmony. Consequently, we get the impression that United States is the best place to be. The younger generation seems to enjoy life to the fullest with almost no regrets. After all, most of us can drive a car at the age of 16; compare that to other countries at 18. We have access to pretty much whatever we need. Most adults are not constantly monitoring and hovering over their children. They have jobs and financial prosperity is huge compared to other countries. The security system of our country is depicted to be superb. In other words, nothing seems amiss. In fact, many citizens in the developing world have sought to stay in the United States with the belief that their life will be the best in the world. The search for green cards is ever increasing because of immigration. Statistics indicate that the American Embassies in most developing countries are among the busiest, which is a good thing right? Nevertheless, I believe that United States is not the greatest country. A close examination of various sectors of the country reveals that America lags behind in many aspects.
Exceptionalism of a country is the idea that it holds different, more ethical decisions, than all the other countries through time. Some believe the great experiment of america is one of these great exceptions. However, slavery, the industrial revolution, and the expansion of the federal government have all threatened this idea of greatness.
As Americans, we used to worry little about war, having enough to eat, travel, freedom, and our most basic everyday activities. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have forever changed the American way of life. We have become more concerned with our physical safety because of the endless terror attacks in America and other countries. Americans have certainly become more patriotic since September 11. Many of us watch the news to learn of any new terror attack or major offensive against cities in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, a variety of countries in Africa, Yemen and numerous other locations. The stock exchange hit bottom on September 21 in the 8100 range and is now back over 17,000 (Pellegrini). Oil prices have been dropping, which will help to boost our slowing economy. Unemployment rates will unfortunately probably remain the same. "Manpower, Inc. said Monday that its survey of United States companies' hiring intentions for the first three months of the year barely registered a pulse, but our commitment together to boost the nation's economy will ensure a bright future. America's future seems to be based on our new ideas formed since September 11, but yet we still carry on the problems of the past. There is still many Americans living in poverty. There is still illegal drugs that infest our nation with addiction and crime that encircles the drug trade. There are many children not getting a good education and many of whom who are fearful of violence at our schools. It is up to us as Americans to face these problems head on now more than ever before.
Americans do have it pretty good, at least compared to the rest of the world. But while we have the material things that make life more comfortable, many of us don't have lives. We often sacrifice those to get the fancy gadgets that give us status over other people. The most successful Americans hardly get a chance to live in the homes they've spent their lives working to obtain. Instead, they live in hotels and airports. At my prestigious prep school, where many students want to belong to the next generation of "most successful Americans," life moves at warp speed.
America has evolved over the centuries, from a British colony to an international powerhouse. At one point, the U.S was considered the greatest country in the world. America always found solutions to problems, and tried to help make peace throughout the world, but now that is up to debate. Why? The answer is simple, the government. The dishonesty and bad decisions have resulted in America’s title as a superpower to waver. The government is a growing problem that may lead to the demise of America by negatively affecting political, social, and economic issues in the country.
America holds approximately five percent of the world’s population, however, we hold about twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners. Literally, one-fourth of criminals are in the United States right now, and
We are more aware, than ever before, of what goes on in the country and in the world. We are not deluded into a false sense of security, by the phrase “The American Dream.” We are, as a nation, fully awake and smelling the coffee. We still choose to believe that it can work for us. We are not being lulled into a false sense of security. We can and do believe that “we can make it if we try.”
National defense is a sensitive topic to most because we need it to live in our country as safe as we do, but it is a big problem in our national debt. The Washington Post showed that the United States spends 20% of its budget on defense and it has increased dramatically since the tragedy of 9/11 (“America’s Staggering Defense Budget”, Plumer). America spends more on its military than the next 13 nations combined, which...
Kuttner, Robert. "The Declining Middle." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.
In the words of Robert E. Lukas Jr. "For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth" .
There are many different pros and cons in life. Regardless of what someone is trying to compare. It is very interesting when doing research on a new country that an individual does not know much about that particular topic. What are the most important qualities in a country that help us function as a society? They are economic growth, strong structural system with government so the people can have a leader to follow in the right path.