- Jan 12, 2005
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Candidates on both left and right seem obligated to pronounce American "the greatest country on earth," as if it's unpatriotic to think otherwise. I think people use that phrase without really considering what they're saying. If you think America is "the greatest," how come?
Have you done some sort of comparative analysis, grading each of the major democracies of the world based on a number of criteria, and America scores highest? If so, what criteria did you use and how did you assign grades? What were the other high-scoring countries?
But I'm being disingenuous: I know darn well that almost no one has done that sort of analysis. Most people label America "the greatest" because it takes little effort to say so and because saying it feels good (or maybe because it makes others think we're patriotic).
Let me turn this around: Would it be unacceptable if America were actually NOT "the greatest based on some impartial, well respected analysis?" Would you move to the best country if American weren't it? Does that mean that one should always strive to live in the greatest country (and if so, what's the implication of that for illegal immigrants to the U.S.)?
Have you done some sort of comparative analysis, grading each of the major democracies of the world based on a number of criteria, and America scores highest? If so, what criteria did you use and how did you assign grades? What were the other high-scoring countries?
But I'm being disingenuous: I know darn well that almost no one has done that sort of analysis. Most people label America "the greatest" because it takes little effort to say so and because saying it feels good (or maybe because it makes others think we're patriotic).
Let me turn this around: Would it be unacceptable if America were actually NOT "the greatest based on some impartial, well respected analysis?" Would you move to the best country if American weren't it? Does that mean that one should always strive to live in the greatest country (and if so, what's the implication of that for illegal immigrants to the U.S.)?