Here in the US, we grow up with the notion that the US is the greatest counter to ever be. But, with greater access to information about other countries, this idea is put into question. If the US is the best, then why all the violence? Why the stunted political views? Why the high poverty rate? What makes the US stand above everything else? It all begs the question, is the US really that great?
Many countries have better systems in certain places. The UK has election rules. This includes, but is not limited to: no ads on Youtube, a strict budget, no last second action to abuse power during the 6 weeks of campaining. No new voting restrictions or lifetime appointments. Norway facilities are meant to rehabilitate those who use drugs and teach criminals how to function in society. Germany has put strict regulations on the price of privatized healthcare, making it's system a good middle ground between universal healthcare and our current system. Finland has the most advanced education system in the world. They have less school, no homework, their grades don't set their worth as a human being and the studenst have a voice. Denmark actually pays you to go to a four year colledge, making sure that studen't can afford to live. New Zealand actually took action against the Corona Virus, ensuring 0 cases.
All of these countries are listed as happier than America in a hgher place in World Economic forums' servey. In fact, the US ranked a spot lower in 2019 than 2018
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/finland-is-the-world-s-happiest-country-again/
So, why is it that Americans think that their country is best? I think it's because American are the most willfully ignorant people. (dismissal of other beliefs or systems.) We don't look at the great achivements of other countries. Instead we pick a select few and say "this is what America isn't." We look at hoe the US has been and say "more of it!" We barely have political view that creep into the left. A frighteningly large amount of us show a basic misunderstanding of social issues. Most recently, mail voting during an international pandemic, and the push for civil rights. We look at a McDonald employee and say they didn't succeed because they didn't try. We ddon't account for the fact that they likely couldn't afford college. We shiver at the word "socialism" and hollar at capitalism. We are just blissfully ignorant of other systems.
What do you think of the US compaired to other countries?
Why do you think the US ranked so low compaired the the countrys that follow the Scandanavian Social Democracy on the survey?
Replies
Theres no doubt the certain circumstances weve been given like covid have made the US a lot less great than before. However, i still think the US is pretty great. We get a lot more freedom than a lot of other European countries do. I dont think some plain survey can really accurately depict our countries happiness compared to others.
I agree with this because we are free and we should be free because of what we have done and what we have been through, also the media is making things sound a lot worse then they need to be because it is just making things get even worse
This is the same think 4Kody said in a reply to 4Hayden. Don't copy people.
I don't really pay attention to other countries and how good they are doing so maybe that contributes to the idea that we are ignorant and only care about ourselves. I see the U.S. as having more freedom than other countries so maybe that is why we think that we are bettter than most countries.
I think the the main reason that the U.S. does not have free healthcare/college is that the Swedish systems have have about 57% taxes which go into the healthcare system and higher education. the US tax for the same group of people income wise is 37%.
Nice to see a little research. but you won't have to pay for tuition or insurance premiums, or crazy prices just for life saving procedures. Don't forget that I brought up Germany's regulations on private healthcare.
I think that the US is good, But we are falling a little behind other countries. We are an almost fully free country compared to other countries where they don't have nearly as much freedom as us. The US has been having lots of politcal problems and we are split, we need to work together again.
I think that every county has its ups and downs and part of an almost fully free county compared to some of the other ones on that survey is that you may be less happy with your life but you have the power to change it. some people just say "I can't do that I'm poor" and maybe they can't do it right now but they have the power to change that. Oprah Winfrey once said "I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good."
I think American feel the way they do because we are a free country living in a democracy. Most americans are proud of our country. Every country has goods and bads. I think we do need to learn more about other countries. Everyone believes different things and has options to do what we want. Peope think that socialism would be good but then you are giving up a lot of freedom and have to do what the government wants.
Socialism isn't giving up freedoms to the government. You can afford to live and still have your rights.
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