America the greatest nation?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
We are also 23rd on the list of best places to live in the world.

Text

Can't beat quality of life in Scandinavia, says world ranking Thu Sep 20, 11:18 AM ET


PARIS (AFP) - Nordic countries take the greatest care of their environment and their people, according to a ranking published on Thursday by the publication Reader's Digest.

Finland comes top of the 141-nation list, followed by Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and then Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Australia.

At the bottom of the list is Ethiopia, preceded by Niger, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Chad.

The United States comes in 23rd, China 84th and India 104th.

The ranking combines environmental factors, such as air and water quality, respect for biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as social factors, such as gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.

The statistical basis is the UN's Human Development Index and the Environmental Sustainability Index drawn up by Yale and Columbia universities and the World Economic Forum.

European countries -- again, led by Scandinavia -- also top the Reader's Digest assessment of 72 cities for their quality of life. The criteria for this include public transport, parks, air quality, rubbish recycling and the price of electricity.

The winner is Stockholm, followed by Oslo, Munich and Paris.

Asia's mega-cities fare the worst. At the bottom is Beijing, preceded by Shanghai, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Bangkok.

Let me ask you one thing...

Would you trade your life in San Diego for a life in any of those cities?

I've never been to any of those cities but if I had an opportunity to go live and work in Sweden or Finland yeah, I'd probably do it. Just the experience alone would be worthwhile.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Casawi
I am not an American and : Why not if you can get away with it. However I do think there need to be some adjustments, the U.S is gambling too much and makes it vulnerable to ...
It can turnout good, if they manage to control the oil business and keep it in US $... but this route will most likely cost a lot of lives and can lead to a bigger WAR.

This is why America is the greatest. People from other countries are so worried about what we do that they feel inclined to overlook their own country's problems to tell us how to fix our own.

You know you are on top when everyone else takes swipes at you.

 

[40Hands]

Are people really touting our illegal immigrants as proof of us being the greatest nation? We're better then Mexico! Yay!

Seriously though, America is great, yes. However we are young, cocky and stupid with our money. Especially within the past oh 7 years or so. We need some good reform.

 

[manowar821]

Jesus, the nationalists here really need to learn how to suck it up. We're not the greatest. Sure, it's nice, but we need to change a lot of things. I mean, a LOT.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Are people really touting our illegal immigrants as proof of us being the greatest nation? We're better then Mexico! Yay!

Seriously though, America is great, yes. However we are young, cocky and stupid with our money. Especially within the past oh 7 years or so. We need some good reform.

You mean we need the government to come in and hold our hands and tell us when we've been bad or good? No thanks. Another reason that America is great is because we are allowed to make decisions like adults, make mistakes like adults and have the opportunity to rebuild from those mistakes.

 

[Miramonti]

Problem is we've got too many armchair patriot idiots saying this country is the greatest, and not enough good people busting their ass trying to make it the greatest or greater.


*reclines*


/edited

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
We are also 23rd on the list of best places to live in the world.

Text

The ranking combines environmental factors, such as air and water quality, respect for biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as social factors, such as gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.

The statistical basis is the UN's Human Development Index and the Environmental Sustainability Index drawn up by Yale and Columbia universities and the World Economic Forum.

European countries -- again, led by Scandinavia -- also top the Reader's Digest assessment of 72 cities for their quality of life. The criteria for this include public transport, parks, air quality, rubbish recycling and the price of electricity.

Based on the criteria, the USA will never be at the top because of 'greenhouse-gas emissions' and public transportation.

The public transportation thing does baffle me somewhat....not because the USA lags in it but because the USA transports goods and materials by train in a highly efficient manner over passengers. Why is that never counted in the favor of the USA?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Let me ask you one thing...

Would you trade your life in San Diego for a life in any of those cities?

I've never been to any of those cities but if I had an opportunity to go live and work in Sweden or Finland yeah, I'd probably do it. Just the experience alone would be worthwhile.

Permanently?

 

[lupi]

There are many "forces" conspiring to drive the country into suckage. Hopefully at some point the populace at some point can act to reverse this trend.

However; the list you presented has about 0 to do with the actual causes.

 

[soonerproud]

The ranking combines environmental factors, such as air and water quality, respect for biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as social factors, such as gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.

These factors are just rubbish. The US has done very well in most of these areas and as has been previously discussed some of the statistics have been doctored to make the US look bad when they do not tell the whole story.

We have some of the toughest environmental laws and regulations in the world. On pollution we fail in one area and that is CO2 emissions. But we have excelled in reducing ozone, particulates and sulfur.

Everyone in the US has access to education if they choose to pursue it. We also have the lowest unemployment rate in the world. Our life expectancy is just as high or higher than those other nations when you remove murders and accidents from the list. Our impoverished live at a level that is considered middle class in many of these European cites.

This report is another example of the whole story not being told. The UN is famous for putting out rubbish reports and this is just one of them.

 

[zoiks]

Its a great nation and so are others. Americans seem to think they own the world for some reason and hold themselves higher than other people.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
We are also 23rd on the list of best places to live in the world.

Text

The ranking combines environmental factors, such as air and water quality, respect for biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as social factors, such as gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.

The statistical basis is the UN's Human Development Index and the Environmental Sustainability Index drawn up by Yale and Columbia universities and the World Economic Forum.

European countries -- again, led by Scandinavia -- also top the Reader's Digest assessment of 72 cities for their quality of life. The criteria for this include public transport, parks, air quality, rubbish recycling and the price of electricity.

Based on the criteria, the USA will never be at the top because of 'greenhouse-gas emissions' and public transportation.

The public transportation thing does baffle me somewhat....not because the USA lags in it but because the USA transports goods and materials by train in a highly efficient manner over passengers. Why is that never counted in the favor of the USA?

Public transportation should not be used as a determining factor at all. The fact that I have a choice is much more important to me than being strapped down to an only public transportation option like many European cities.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: manowar821
Jesus, the nationalists here really need to learn how to suck it up. We're not the greatest. Sure, it's nice, but we need to change a lot of things. I mean, a LOT.

No one is saying things can't be better. The problem is that the socialist seem to think that only Government programs and socialized everything is the answer to all our problems. That is what all these studies always seem to conclude is that socialized systems can do no wrong and free market systems are evil.

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Are people really touting our illegal immigrants as proof of us being the greatest nation? We're better then Mexico! Yay!

Seriously though, America is great, yes. However we are young, cocky and stupid with our money. Especially within the past oh 7 years or so. We need some good reform.

You mean we need the government to come in and hold our hands and tell us when we've been bad or good? No thanks. Another reason that America is great is because we are allowed to make decisions like adults, make mistakes like adults and have the opportunity to rebuild from those mistakes.

No, I don't mean that. I was speaking of us as a whole country. The government IS taking our tax money and spending it on stupid sh!t. Yeah, more money to a failed war, great spending there! Why don't we owe a few billion more to China, yeah that's the ticket!

You seem a little bit crazed about defending the US no matter what criticisms are put forth in this thread no matter how true they are. Why don't you be a little more open minded, we're not trying to "hate on your turf" :roll:

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Problem is we've got too many armchair patriot idiots saying this country great, and not enough good people busting their ass trying to make it great.


*reclines*

And we are not already great how? We are by no means perfect but no nation is.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Its a great nation and so are others. Americans seem to think they own the world for some reason and hold themselves higher than other people.

No we don't, but it gets tiresome when almost weekly you have someone bashing America. I feel fortunate I live in this country and sometimes wonder how they hell I got so lucky. Some people, however, can't look a gifted-horse in the mouth. They would rather whine, whine, whine.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
We are also 23rd on the list of best places to live in the world.

Text

The ranking combines environmental factors, such as air and water quality, respect for biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as social factors, such as gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.

The statistical basis is the UN's Human Development Index and the Environmental Sustainability Index drawn up by Yale and Columbia universities and the World Economic Forum.

European countries -- again, led by Scandinavia -- also top the Reader's Digest assessment of 72 cities for their quality of life. The criteria for this include public transport, parks, air quality, rubbish recycling and the price of electricity.

Based on the criteria, the USA will never be at the top because of 'greenhouse-gas emissions' and public transportation.

The public transportation thing does baffle me somewhat....not because the USA lags in it but because the USA transports goods and materials by train in a highly efficient manner over passengers. Why is that never counted in the favor of the USA?

Public transportation should not be used as a determining factor at all. The fact that I have a choice is much more important to me than being strapped down to an only public transportation option like many European cities.

Definitely agree there. Just also wondering why America's commercial transportation system is never factored in to the discussion....wait, nevermind...it would be considered a positive.

 

[O2Deprived]

While there are many other countries that I'd love to visit, I don't want to live in any other than here in the US. Every nation has it's bad spots, it's just that the US has it's dirty laundry aired more often (so it seems).

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Its a great nation and so are others. Americans seem to think they own the world for some reason and hold themselves higher than other people.

Most Americans actually do not think like this at all. It is a misconception that has been spread by the media and a few assholes in this country that are very vocal. Very few Americans believe we are superior to every one else.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: 40Hands

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Are people really touting our illegal immigrants as proof of us being the greatest nation? We're better then Mexico! Yay!

Seriously though, America is great, yes. However we are young, cocky and stupid with our money. Especially within the past oh 7 years or so. We need some good reform.

You mean we need the government to come in and hold our hands and tell us when we've been bad or good? No thanks. Another reason that America is great is because we are allowed to make decisions like adults, make mistakes like adults and have the opportunity to rebuild from those mistakes.

No, I don't mean that. I was speaking of us as a whole country. The government IS taking our tax money and spending it on stupid sh!t. Yeah, more money to a failed war, great spending there! Why don't we owe a few billion more to China, yeah that's the ticket!

You seem a little bit crazed about defending the US no matter what criticisms are put forth in this thread no matter how true they are. Why don't you be a little more open minded, we're not trying to "hate on your turf" :roll:

There are only a handful of things that get me riled up. This kind of discussion is one of them. And just because I take the side of defending this country does not mean I am close-minded. I personally don't believe that some of the things people bitch about and want to change (socialized healthcare, broader public transportation, greater role of government, etc) are answers to this country's problems - if you can argue that they are problems to begin with. But, I also believe some things should change - eliminating the tax code is one of them.

 

[Laminator]

Seriously, everyone here should think about how lucky they were to be born in America or the UK or some other western industrialized country. Our quality of life here is ridiculously awesome.

And say what you want about America's vices but we must be doing something right as no other country comes close to matching our force projection capabilities. We may not provide the best lower eduction or social services but in the end, we have achieved the primary goal of any nation - to become the most powerful nation on earth. We may not hold this title forever but few other countries can claim this goal.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Like many people have said in this thread: There is no way to judge the "greatest" country. It's like asking if a Bentley is better than a Ferrari. The Bentley is a heck of a lot more comfortable than a Ferrari, but the Ferrari is going to be a lot more exciting to drive.

America does have its? problems, but it has a ton of positives as well.
Nobody can name a country that is "the best" because it is a subjective opinion. What's the best for you may not be the best for me.

I think most people base their opinion of America being the best is because of our Constitutional rights and all of the freedoms we have. Some people don't care about these and some do, but I think that is a big factor in a lot of people's opinions.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Let me ask you one thing...

Would you trade your life in San Diego for a life in any of those cities?

I've never been to any of those cities but if I had an opportunity to go live and work in Sweden or Finland yeah, I'd probably do it. Just the experience alone would be worthwhile.

Permanently?

Sure, why not?

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang

Like many people have said in this thread: There is no way to judge the "greatest" country. It's like asking if a Bentley is better than a Ferrari. The Bentley is a heck of a lot more comfortable than a Ferrari, but the Ferrari is going to be a lot more exciting to drive.

America does have its? problems, but it has a ton of positives as well.
Nobody can name a country that is "the best" because it is a subjective opinion. What's the best for you may not be the best for me.

I think most people base their opinion of America being the best is because of our Constitutional rights and all of the freedoms we have. Some people don't care about these and some do, but I think that is a big factor in a lot of people's opinions.

We also need to be aware we have lost a lot of those freedoms to more Federal encroachment. There are some countries that are actually surpassing us in some areas of our freedoms. The Patriot act is an example of trading our liberties and freedoms in the name of security. We need to be careful that we do not trade our liberties in any area for the promise of security. It is our liberties that make us great and not our Government.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: soonerproud
We also need to be aware we have lost a lot of those freedoms to more Federal encroachment. There are some countries that are actually surpassing us in some areas of our freedoms. The Patriot act is an example of trading our liberties and freedoms in the name of security. We need to be careful that we do not trade our liberties in any area for the promise of security. It is our liberties that make us great and not our Government.

ummm, have you seen some of the civil liberties at threat in other western nations?