The U.S. has been touted as the "Greatest Country on Earth"...

...now and again, within and without it's borders.

What do you think?

Please note your country of origin...

Prey tell where this book/article/column was published....

1. Does america realize that it has borders?
2. I still want an answer to my thread about the armistance deal to force import american culture(movies) to europe.
3.Define "great(est)" and then define why Botswana is Greater.
4. Define "provoke via rod"

Sorry you are not the greatest - personally i find Holland more realistic.

This morning i woke up and felt great, went to shop and had a great conversation with with its owner who told me about the great things he had done in his life while he gave me the great reduction on the bill i owed him,he is a great guy
Great almost spelt like Create
to bad

Nice Rod you got me

l've never heard anyone but Americans make that claim, am l missing something? Personally, l have no desire to even visit the place again, l certainly wouldn't live there. Australia is the greatest country to live in, and we have more freedoms than you lot, something you'll no doubt find difficult to grasp.

Usually folks in their respective countries say that their's is the best place to live.

As far as who may want to make their own way in a country, I don't hear much "I want to make it in Australia, Canada, or France" but that's only from my POV in America.

America was built on "Hey come on over and make your way." However, other countries have immigrants too. :idunno:

The U.S. has been touted as the "Greatest Country on Earth"...by an American.

No shit.

Everything everybody says about America is true to one extent or another.

What I'm wondering is why anyone says it at all, given how most seem to feel.

Does altruism exist to the same extent in America as it does in other countries?

There is a dynamic which guides all international commentary thus, and it is quite true that the U.S. is under the microscope as no other country is.

I wonder what such minute examination might reveal if other countries were given a look?

After all, it is a common claim we here in the states are ignorant of other places, yes?

Let's hear what we are missing.

BTW-this thread was not formulated as a rod; it was meant to be explorative.

The USA is the most powerful and influential country in the world. I don't believe that makes it the "greatest" though. Different countries have different things to offer, and some do certain things better than they are done in the U.S.

There is always room for improvement. However, as an overall package, the USA is above average :)

Can't really say as I've never been there.
I'm Belgian myself, but I live in Scotland so I suppose I've got the advantage to have seen two very different cultures from up close.

I have a rather negative image of America. There's nothing really that attracts me there ( except the Guggenheim museum) and most of the Americans I speak to have a very different idea about ethics, morals, emotions than I have. I've always found it very difficult to communicate with Americans on an objective level ( bar yourself j2k4 and a few other people around here).

Then again, all I ever hear in the media about the States is always in a negative spotlight. The Brits aren't too happy about the USA, neither are the Belgians. Also, I come from a rather left socialist orientated background which may influence my opinion.

I think the country has become a bit of a farce almost. It's hard to find anything unbiased about it. Or maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

One thing I'd like to say though.

The past couple of days I've been watching a programme called ' Let's talk sex' presented by Davina McCall. It's about how teenagers in Britain deal with sex, and to be honest. I am appalled.

I never realised sex ed wasn't compulsory on the curriculum here and I cannot believe that the country with the higest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe still hasn't installed it!
One of the teenage boys they were talking about honestly thought women laid eggs..

I would love to have kids but there's no way on earth I will raise them in a country that is too prude and backeards to teach kids about sex when obviously it is a necessity.


I seem to have deviated from the subject here. Sorry :)

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Originally Posted by Barbarossa

The USA is the most powerful and influential country in the world. I don't believe that makes it the "greatest" though. Different countries have different things to offer, and some do certain things better than they are done in the U.S.

There is always room for improvement. However, as an overall package, the USA is above average :)

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Your last sentence is a good summation. Before that, I was to ask you what one country does all of those "certain things" better than the US.

From what I understand, foreigners on this board have the conception that it is so dangerous here 'cause folks have guns..as if the lot of them will be walking and just get hit by a bullet. The fact is those are isolated incidents just they are over there and there isn't a lot to be scared of. There are bad areas here just like anywhere else and there are maniacs.

Tbh, I wouldn't grasp that a traveler wouldn't want to come here besides their own ill-conceived notions. Hell I'll be going to the UK maybe in '09.

America has a different dynamic than other countries in that there's so many places for us to visit within the country. There are places that are on the list of "must go-to at least once" like Las Vegas, NYC, Disneyworld, Niagara Falls, etc. If I lived in a small European country, I'd wanna GTFO too. Some of those countries are the size of our states.

The reason for the altruism is simply because the US' foreign policy affects the rest of the world, because of its military and economic clout. If the US goes into recession, then it will affect the economic climate in my part of the world, so I might comment upon that, because it interests me.

'I just wish they didn't spend so much on the military'.

If the US President issues a statement which groups vast swathes of people as being part of an ungodly collective, I might discuss the folly of doing so because the repercussions might affect me in terms of the UK being an ally of the US.

'Was the axis-of-evil phrase really necessary'.

The UK, and other countries, doesn't have so much impact with its decisions, so this altruism doesn't exist amongst Americans.



As to the 'greatness' of the US. apart from it being a powerful economic and military force, I don't think it's so great. The 'must visit' places noted above don't register whatsover. I'm not put off travelling somewhere by any perceived danger as I go to the Middle East a couple of times a year, at least I did up until recently ... but the places in the US just aren't very interesting.

The US has basically no history or culture that it can call its own, so makes up for this with rampant commercialism.

I really don't see anything great about that.

Great countries have 'great' in their names.

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Originally Posted by manker

The reason for the altruism is simply because the US' foreign policy affects the rest of the world, because of its military and economic clout. If the US goes into recession, then it will affect the economic climate in my part of the world, so I might comment upon that, because it interests me.

'I just wish they didn't spend so much on the military'.

If the US President issues a statement which groups vast swathes of people as being part of an ungodly collective, I might discuss the folly of doing so because the repercussions might affect me in terms of the UK being an ally of the US.

'Was the axis-of-evil phrase really necessary'.

The UK, and other countries, doesn't have so much impact with its decisions, so this altruism doesn't exist amongst Americans.



As to the 'greatness' of the US. apart from it being a powerful economic and military force, I don't think it's so great. The 'must visit' places noted above don't register whatsover. I'm not put off travelling somewhere by any perceived danger as I go to the Middle East a couple of times a year, at least I did up until recently ... but the places in the US just aren't very interesting.

The US has basically no history or culture that it can call its own, so makes up for this with rampant commercialism.

I really don't see anything great about that.

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Some of that probably makes sense as to why we in general don't pay much attention to the inner workings of rest of world.

Some people forget that America is a huge country (I think third largest:unsure: ) and is very diverse. The 'must visit' places above are American's 'must visit' places.

One thing also is that we are separated by water. Americans are more likely to vacation within the country, go to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean than cross the water. Many are content to stay on our side of the world. The ME is really on your side of the world. I don't care to ever go there 'cause my vacations are mainly about having and relaxing and not necessarily visiting different cultures. I'll visit different cultures on my cruise in May.:P

We aren't even likely to go to Hawaii on a whim. To fucking expensive (I'm planning my honeymoon there, however). Timeshares FTW!

I think greatness comes from quality of your life where you reside. That is what you make of it. I can only judge how I'd live elsewhere compared to here. Visiting there doesn't cut it. The islands I'll going to (plus Mexico) seem like great places to visit but I think my quality of life if I live there would be
some shit.

Take for instance where I live now. I almost moved out in westbubblefuck Maryland but I like being able to get to the metropolitan area without driving an hour. I also like seclusion. I got lucky and got both. I'm in a secluded wooded area away enough from businesses, traffic, clumped crime, yet I can get to Downtown DC in 30 minutes, the subway in 15, Baltimore (another metro area) in 45, Virginia in 10, North Beach in 35, and so forth.

I think most are content with where they live. I know I don't see my quality of life being upgraded by moving to Europe. However, I'd probably never get an inkling of what that would be like. Tourist attractions don't count. I only can go on maybe the "numbers", how I hear and see others living, and how satisfied and ultra confortable I am here in comparison.:)

Oh and commercial feces are great in that it pays for shit or drive costs down. A fella can open a business and then 5 more will open to compete. A success story could be you. Many folks I know have made money (besides drug selling :dry:) from a small business at one time or another. I remember Karl Kani selling clothes out of the trunk of his car before seeing them in stores. I had a full-fledged studio where I used to make $400 a week without blinking and I was still in high school with a normal job. The real success stories are the ones that keeping going, stay motivated, and don't get sidetracked.

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Originally Posted by Cheese

Great countries have 'great' in their names.

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What country has that?:blink:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by Cheese

Great countries have 'great' in their names.

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What country has that?:blink:

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Do you really not know? That is a bit tragic. :(

I'm not making any promises on the accuracy of any of these, but this website has a vast array of lists and league tables:

http://www.aneki.com/lists.html

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Originally Posted by Cheese

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Originally Posted by Busyman

What country has that?:blink:

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Do you really not know? That is a bit tragic. :(

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No. I know of no country with the word "great" in it.:1eye:

Great United States of America
Great Canada
Great England
Great Japan
Great Ireland
Great Brazil
Great Mexico
Great Spain
Great Turkey
Great China
Great Russia (there was the term Mother Russia or something like that)
Great Vietnam
Great Italy
Great Germany
Great JumpingJohosaFat!!

Oic

I think the English translation of the official title of Libya has 'great' in there somewhere :dabs:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by manker

The reason for the altruism is simply because the US' foreign policy affects the rest of the world, because of its military and economic clout. If the US goes into recession, then it will affect the economic climate in my part of the world, so I might comment upon that, because it interests me.

'I just wish they didn't spend so much on the military'.

If the US President issues a statement which groups vast swathes of people as being part of an ungodly collective, I might discuss the folly of doing so because the repercussions might affect me in terms of the UK being an ally of the US.

'Was the axis-of-evil phrase really necessary'.

The UK, and other countries, doesn't have so much impact with its decisions, so this altruism doesn't exist amongst Americans.



As to the 'greatness' of the US. apart from it being a powerful economic and military force, I don't think it's so great. The 'must visit' places noted above don't register whatsover. I'm not put off travelling somewhere by any perceived danger as I go to the Middle East a couple of times a year, at least I did up until recently ... but the places in the US just aren't very interesting.

The US has basically no history or culture that it can call its own, so makes up for this with rampant commercialism.

I really don't see anything great about that.

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Some of that probably makes sense as to why we in general don't pay much attention to the inner workings of rest of world.

Some people forget that America is a huge country (I think third largest:unsure: ) and is very diverse. The 'must visit' places above are American's 'must visit' places.

One thing also is that we are separated by water. Americans are more likely to vacation within the country, go to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean than cross the water. Many are content to stay on our side of the world. The ME is really on your side of the world. I don't care to ever go there 'cause my vacations are mainly about having and relaxing and not necessarily visiting different cultures. I'll visit different cultures on my cruise in May.:P

We aren't even likely to go to Hawaii on a whim. To fucking expensive (I'm planning my honeymoon there, however). Timeshares FTW!

I think greatness comes from quality of your life where you reside. That is what you make of it. I can only judge how I'd live elsewhere compared to here. Visiting there doesn't cut it. The islands I'll going to (plus Mexico) seem like great places to visit but I think my quality of life if I live there would be
some shit.

Take for instance where I live now. I almost moved out in westbubblefuck Maryland but I like being able to get to the metropolitan area without driving an hour. I also like seclusion. I got lucky and got both. I'm in a secluded wooded area away enough from businesses, traffic, clumped crime, yet I can get to Downtown DC in 30 minutes, the subway in 15, Baltimore (another metro area) in 45, Virginia in 10, North Beach in 35, and so forth.

I think most are content with where they live. I know I don't see my quality of life being upgraded by moving to Europe. However, I'd probably never get an inkling of what that would be like. Tourist attractions don't count. I only can go on maybe the "numbers", how I hear and see others living, and how satisfied and ultra confortable I am here in comparison.:)

Oh and commercial feces are great in that it pays for shit or drive costs down. A fella can open a business and then 5 more will open to compete. A success story could be you. Many folks I know have made money (besides drug selling :dry:) from a small business at one time or another. I remember Karl Kani selling clothes out of the trunk of his car before seeing them in stores. I had a full-fledged studio where I used to make $400 a week without blinking and I was still in high school with a normal job. The real success stories are the ones that keeping going, stay motivated, and don't get sidetracked.

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Yeah, you're mainly talking about economics there.

My contradictions to its 'greatness' were of a more qualitative nature.

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Originally Posted by manker

I think the English translation of the official title of Libya has 'great' in there somewhere :dabs:

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That's part of a vagina, silly.

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Originally Posted by manker

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Some of that probably makes sense as to why we in general don't pay much attention to the inner workings of rest of world.

Some people forget that America is a huge country (I think third largest:unsure: ) and is very diverse. The 'must visit' places above are American's 'must visit' places.

One thing also is that we are separated by water. Americans are more likely to vacation within the country, go to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean than cross the water. Many are content to stay on our side of the world. The ME is really on your side of the world. I don't care to ever go there 'cause my vacations are mainly about having and relaxing and not necessarily visiting different cultures. I'll visit different cultures on my cruise in May.:P

We aren't even likely to go to Hawaii on a whim. To fucking expensive (I'm planning my honeymoon there, however). Timeshares FTW!

I think greatness comes from quality of your life where you reside. That is what you make of it. I can only judge how I'd live elsewhere compared to here. Visiting there doesn't cut it. The islands I'll going to (plus Mexico) seem like great places to visit but I think my quality of life if I live there would be
some shit.

Take for instance where I live now. I almost moved out in westbubblefuck Maryland but I like being able to get to the metropolitan area without driving an hour. I also like seclusion. I got lucky and got both. I'm in a secluded wooded area away enough from businesses, traffic, clumped crime, yet I can get to Downtown DC in 30 minutes, the subway in 15, Baltimore (another metro area) in 45, Virginia in 10, North Beach in 35, and so forth.

I think most are content with where they live. I know I don't see my quality of life being upgraded by moving to Europe. However, I'd probably never get an inkling of what that would be like. Tourist attractions don't count. I only can go on maybe the "numbers", how I hear and see others living, and how satisfied and ultra confortable I am here in comparison.:)

Oh and commercial feces are great in that it pays for shit or drive costs down. A fella can open a business and then 5 more will open to compete. A success story could be you. Many folks I know have made money (besides drug selling :dry:) from a small business at one time or another. I remember Karl Kani selling clothes out of the trunk of his car before seeing them in stores. I had a full-fledged studio where I used to make $400 a week without blinking and I was still in high school with a normal job. The real success stories are the ones that keeping going, stay motivated, and don't get sidetracked.

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Yeah, you're mainly talking about economics there.

My contradictions to its 'greatness' were of a more qualitative nature.

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How do you measure the quality?

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by manker

Yeah, you're mainly talking about economics there.

My contradictions to its 'greatness' were of a more qualitative nature.

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How do you measure the quality?

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By using an esoteric discernment-ometer, of course.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by Cheese

Do you really not know? That is a bit tragic. :(

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No. I know of no country with the word "great" in it.:1eye:

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Your ignorance is tragic, though expected. Dismissed.

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Originally Posted by manker

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Originally Posted by Busyman

How do you measure the quality?

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By using an esoteric discernment-ometer, of course.

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Just what I thought.:happy:

I tend to use stuff like access to high paying jobs, crime rate, cost of living, distance from a beach, quality of teaching in the schools, etc.

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Originally Posted by Cheese

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Originally Posted by Busyman

No. I know of no country with the word "great" in it.:1eye:

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Your ignorance is tragic, though expected. Dismissed.

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Noooooo....there's labia.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by manker

By using an esoteric discernment-ometer, of course.

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Just what I thought.:happy:

I tend to use stuff like access to high paying jobs, crime rate, cost of living, distance from a beach, quality of teaching in the schools, etc.

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In my line of work, I have to quantify the intangible. Pound notes are not what a balance sheet is all about.

The same can be said in this case. If you can't see it, you can't see it :idunno:

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Originally Posted by manker

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Just what I thought.:happy:

I tend to use stuff like access to high paying jobs, crime rate, cost of living, distance from a beach, quality of teaching in the schools, etc.

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In my line of work, I have to quantify the intangible. Pound notes are not what a balance sheet is all about.

The same can be said in this case. If you can't see it, you can't see it :idunno:

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True dat but I gotta start somewhere. If an area has fucked up schools I don't wanna go there. If I gotta live in a hovel, I don't wanna live there. Cost of living too high, don't wanna there. Availability of a decent paying jobs in relation to cost of living and how I want to live, don't wanna live there. No "comforts" nearby, don't wanna live there.

I don't have to see it.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

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Originally Posted by manker

In my line of work, I have to quantify the intangible. Pound notes are not what a balance sheet is all about.

The same can be said in this case. If you can't see it, you can't see it :idunno:

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True dat but I gotta start somewhere. If an area has fucked up schools I don't wanna go there. If I gotta live in a hovel, I don't wanna live there. Cost of living too high, don't wanna there. Availability of a decent paying jobs in relation to cost of living and how I want to live, don't wanna live there. No "comforts" nearby, don't wanna live there.

I don't have to see it.

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Busy, we're not talking about where you want to live. I don't give two shits about what you can and can't afford.

We're talking about whether America is great or not. At least that's what I'm trying to talk about but you seem set on showing everyone where you're going on holidays and how much money you made while you were in school.

America's 'greatness' (or not) isn't dependent on whether you're going to Hawaii on honeymoon :blink:

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Originally Posted by manker

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Originally Posted by Busyman

True dat but I gotta start somewhere. If an area has fucked up schools I don't wanna go there. If I gotta live in a hovel, I don't wanna live there. Cost of living too high, don't wanna there. Availability of a decent paying jobs in relation to cost of living and how I want to live, don't wanna live there. No "comforts" nearby, don't wanna live there.

I don't have to see it.

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Busy, we're not talking about where you want to live. I don't give two shits about what you can and can't afford.

We're talking about whether America is great or not. At least that's what I'm trying to talk about but you seem set on showing everyone where you're going on holidays and how much money you made while you were in school.

America's 'greatness' (or not) isn't dependent on whether you're going to Hawaii on honeymoon :blink:

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There you go getting personal...again. :ermm:

What makes a country great is many of the things I said. It's not about what I can or can't afford. I tend to think even foreigners think about how there kids will grow up, what type of schools, crime rate, etc.

I know it's hard for you not to be git but damn.:mellow:

I think the US would be a nice place to stay if one is wealthy - less so if one were to be a tad short of a dollar or two.

I can't say the short holidays and long hours entice me much :) I am rather fond of my 6 weeks leave and 10 days public holidays.

On the other hand, on US TV no one seems to do much at their place of work ... of course that is TV world. :shifty:

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Originally Posted by Biggles

I think the US would be a nice place to stay if one is wealthy - less so if one were to be a tad short of a dollar or two.

I can't say the short holidays and long hours entice me much :) I am rather fond of my 6 weeks leave and 10 days public holidays.

On the other hand, on US TV no one seems to do much at their place of work ... of course that is TV world. :shifty:

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Damn how many years do you have at your job? I think I have to have 25 years for 6 weeks vacation. :blink: I only have 4 now (but our sick leave is separate) and next year I get another.

France is nice with their vacation. I saw on 60 Minutes that they get something like 8 weeks or something crazy like that.:O Talk about livin' it up.

One of my instructors was Italian and he said that over there, there isn't this huge stress on punctuality like here. Very laid back.

On this side, 1 minute late means you are marked late. Too many and you are suspended. Too many after that...fired. That can go with being late coming from lunch. Of course some jobs over here are more laid back than others. One reason I'm glad to be outta the office.

Over 20 years but the trigger for 6 weeks is 10 years (or something of that order).

The punctuality thing clinches it! I am not a morning person. As long as I average my 37 hours a week over a four week period (give or take 14 hours either way) everything is good. Ultimately it is the quality of the input that counts - not activity or attendance.

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Originally Posted by Biggles

Over 20 years but the trigger for 6 weeks is 10 years (or something of that order).

The punctuality thing clinches it! I am not a morning person. As long as I average my 37 hours a week over a four week period (give or take 14 hours either way) everything is good. Ultimately it is the quality of the input that counts - not activity or attendance.

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Very good point. We do have some jobs that have "flex time" where you can arrive between certain hours but that's rare. 4 day workweeks are being experimented on.

You can be a sub-par worker and as long you arrive on time, you'll be ok. It's one downfall of unions over here although that's being rectified.

6 weeks is absolutely stunning for 10 years of work.:O Are your vacation and sick leave rolled into one?

edit: Some of our jobs require punctuality (like call centers) and some don't. They are treated the same, however.

If I am sick I can self certify that I am ill for up to 7 days and 14 days in total in a year. If medically certified (doctor) then they will pay me for six months full pay and thereafter half pay for a further 6 months. Thankfully I have never had the misfortune to require that benefit.

That is probably quite good - even by European standards.

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Originally Posted by Biggles

If I am sick I can self certify that I am ill for up to 7 days and 14 days in total in a year. If medically certified (doctor) then they will pay me for six months full pay and thereafter half pay for a further 6 months. Thankfully I have never had the misfortune to require that benefit.

That is probably quite good - even by European standards.

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Wow that is similar to where I work.

We can self-certify sick up to 4 days every 3 months (otherwise you get put on a Step which makes ineligible for a lonnnng time, it's complicated) which equals 12 days a year.

If medically certified I can be out up to 12 workweeks in a year without repurcssion (Clinton's FMLA Act). I don't know how long I get full pay except I'm still it getting now and I'm almost at 10 weeks. This is Sickness and Disability which runs alongside FMLA. Our pay drops down as time progresses also. I just don't know when.:idunno:

As far as vacation, we don't accumulate it like most jobs (government, hospital). We re-up once Jan. 1 hits and of course bring along any carryover day/weeks.

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Originally Posted by j2k4

Everything everybody says about America is true to one extent or another.

What I'm wondering is why anyone says it at all, given how most seem to feel.

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Are you possibly confusing dislike of whatever party happens to be in power (republican policies are disliked now by the people that liked democratic polices, as democratic policies were disliked by people who liked republican policies) with love of ones country? Today politically we have a incredibly devisive climate and one side claims that the other hates America because they disagree with the present political party policies. "Don't agree with the way Bush handles Iraq...you must hate america".....:dry:

I personally think America is a great place. To say it's the greatest would be subjective. I have lived in a few countries and in all honesty I can say that it's swings and roundabouts. We are better than many places at some things (IMO) and far infereior at other (IMO). It's not unpatriotic to think that others have some better ways.

So I think it's fair to allow anyone from any country to state that their country is the greatest. For that individual it may well be. That said to constantly say it to everyone else is kind of obnoxious.

On a slight deviation people from the USA do make a very false statement quite often. That is to call our president, whoever it may be, the "leader of the free world"...... we can't really back that one up :unsure:

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Originally Posted by j2k4

Does altruism exist to the same extent in America as it does in other countries?

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Depends on the country. For a supposed "christian" country the USA does have a very selfish attitude domestically speaking.

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Originally Posted by vidcc

Are you possibly confusing dislike of whatever party happens to be in power (republican policies are disliked now by the people that liked democratic polices, as democratic policies were disliked by people who liked republican policies) with love of ones country? Today politically we have a incredibly devisive climate and one side claims that the other hates America because they disagree with the present political party policies. "Don't agree with the way Bush handles Iraq...you must hate america".....:dry:

I personally think America is a great place. To say it's the greatest would be subjective. I have lived in a few countries and in all honesty I can say that it's swings and roundabouts. We are better than many places at some things (IMO) and far infereior at other (IMO). It's not unpatriotic to think that others have some better ways.

So I think it's fair to allow anyone from any country to state that their country is the greatest. For that individual it may well be. That said to constantly say it to everyone else is kind of obnoxious.

On a slight deviation people from the USA do make a very false statement quite often. That is to call our president, whoever it may be, the "leader of the free world"...... we can't really back that one up :unsure:

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Originally Posted by j2k4

Does altruism exist to the same extent in America as it does in other countries?

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Depends on the country. For a supposed "christian" country the USA does have a very selfish attitude domestically speaking.

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Good post.

You've lived in other countries...do you think America, as a whole, is the greatest country to live in? (of course, in your opinion)

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Originally Posted by vidcc

Are you possibly confusing dislike of whatever party happens to be in power (republican policies are disliked now by the people that liked democratic polices, as democratic policies were disliked by people who liked republican policies) with love of ones country? Today politically we have a incredibly devisive climate and one side claims that the other hates America because they disagree with the present political party policies. "Don't agree with the way Bush handles Iraq...you must hate america".....:dry:

I personally think America is a great place. To say it's the greatest would be subjective. I have lived in a few countries and in all honesty I can say that it's swings and roundabouts. We are better than many places at some things (IMO) and far infereior at other (IMO). It's not unpatriotic to think that others have some better ways.

So I think it's fair to allow anyone from any country to state that their country is the greatest. For that individual it may well be. That said to constantly say it to everyone else is kind of obnoxious.

On a slight deviation people from the USA do make a very false statement quite often. That is to call our president, whoever it may be, the "leader of the free world"...... we can't really back that one up :unsure:

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Originally Posted by j2k4

Does altruism exist to the same extent in America as it does in other countries?

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Depends on the country. For a supposed "christian" country the USA does have a very selfish attitude domestically speaking.

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The U.S. is a representative republic with a capitalist economy.

As one who denounces any mixing of Christianity with government, and is not himself a believer, you have no credibility or entree to speak of christian "selfishness".

Given that-

Would you prefer to pay more taxes?

.53 of every dollar the government here collects goes to entitlements, .09 to debt service, and about .21 goes to defense.

The remaining .17 could be defined as discretionary, or subject to budgetary whim.

We work more than most other "civilized" countries already.

Apart from all that, I think you're attempting to make this thread into something I hadn't intended.

I do find mself wondering what shape opinions in here would take if/when a Democrat sits in the White House.

My point was to elicit specific observations about the U.S. as well as other countries for the sake of discussion.

It would be terribly presumptive to ask this be pinned, but I do see this as a potentially long-running thread, and one in which certain clarifications can be offered, fears allayed, or misapprehensions corrected.

The French say, Vive le difference! (I've never been sure why), but the sentiment never seems to be extended to the U.S.

Our culture (that which we may be granted to possess, anyway) is belittled as shallow and cheap, and it's influence around the world is loathed even by those who enjoy it.

I agree and regret that the only culture we've managed to export is of the sort meant to generate profit.

Many other dynamics interfere with genuine understanding, but I find it beneficial to kick those cans down the road with discussion, not out-of-hand rejection.

Perhaps this is too broad a subject for this board; I wouldn't want a thread of this type to crowd out other action or become merely a bitch session.

Maybe it won't work.

Time will tell, huh? :)

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Originally Posted by manker

The US has basically no history or culture that it can call its own, so makes up for this with rampant commercialism.

I really don't see anything great about that.

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I know, even canadia has more culture and history :)


:lookaroun

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Originally Posted by j2k4

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Originally Posted by vidcc

Are you possibly confusing dislike of whatever party happens to be in power (republican policies are disliked now by the people that liked democratic polices, as democratic policies were disliked by people who liked republican policies) with love of ones country? Today politically we have a incredibly devisive climate and one side claims that the other hates America because they disagree with the present political party policies. "Don't agree with the way Bush handles Iraq...you must hate america".....:dry:

I personally think America is a great place. To say it's the greatest would be subjective. I have lived in a few countries and in all honesty I can say that it's swings and roundabouts. We are better than many places at some things (IMO) and far infereior at other (IMO). It's not unpatriotic to think that others have some better ways.

So I think it's fair to allow anyone from any country to state that their country is the greatest. For that individual it may well be. That said to constantly say it to everyone else is kind of obnoxious.

On a slight deviation people from the USA do make a very false statement quite often. That is to call our president, whoever it may be, the "leader of the free world"...... we can't really back that one up :unsure:


Depends on the country. For a supposed "christian" country the USA does have a very selfish attitude domestically speaking.

---

The U.S. is a representative republic with a capitalist economy.

As one who denounces any mixing of Christianity with government, and is not himself a believer, you have no credibility or entree to speak of christian "selfishness".

Given that-

Would you prefer to pay more taxes?

.53 of every dollar the government here collects goes to entitlements, .09 to debt service, and about .21 goes to defense.

The remaining .17 could be defined as discretionary, or subject to budgetary whim.

We work more than most other "civilized" countries already.

Apart from all that, I think you're attempting to make this thread into something I hadn't intended.

I do find mself wondering what shape opinions in here would take if/when a Democrat sits in the White House.

My point was to elicit specific observations about the U.S. as well as other countries for the sake of discussion.

It would be terribly presumptive to ask this be pinned, but I do see this as a potentially long-running thread, and one in which certain clarifications can be offered, fears allayed, or misapprehensions corrected.

The French say, Vive le difference! (I've never been sure why), but the sentiment never seems to be extended to the U.S.

Our culture (that which we may be granted to possess, anyway) is belittled as shallow and cheap, and it's influence around the world is loathed even by those who enjoy it.

I agree and regret that the only culture we've managed to export is of the sort meant to generate profit.

Many other dynamics interfere with genuine understanding, but I find it beneficial to kick those cans down the road with discussion, not out-of-hand rejection.

Perhaps this is too broad a subject for this board; I wouldn't want a thread of this type to crowd out other action or become merely a bitch session.

Maybe it won't work.

Time will tell, huh? :)

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Another good post. Yeah I hope this thread doesn't turn into a Dem/Repub thread as well.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Another good post. Yeah I hope this thread doesn't turn into a Dem/Repub thread as well.

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Thanks, and I sincerely don't want this to be a "political" thread.

Politicians are the same wherever you go, and I'd prefer to leave them out of this.

I don't recall anyone hereabout dumb enough to tout their country as possessing "the greatest politicians the world has ever known".

That Galloway character is entertaining as all get-out, but I don't recall anyone willing to claim him, apart from The, of course.