Was America ever "Great" and if so what made it great?

[Hanoi_Jane00]

Yes I suppose if you ignore the racism and stuff, from what I know of history there was a golden period (if you were white) in the US where jobs were plentiful, wages were high, food was cheap, houses were cheap, college education was cheap, people were thinner and healthier at a time when here in Britain we still had rationing.
The Health care system i suppose is one of greatest failings of American Soceity. Obamacare is the most capitalist idea i ever heard of. I mean the US government forcing taxpayers to pay extortionate prices to a health insurance company that won't cover them if they have preexisting conditions or get seriously ill. Then there's the high prices of prescription drugs and the high prices for medicalcare. Ludicrous.
Don't get me started on the mental health care in America, the storming of the capitol building was America's mental health crisis finally exploding.

[RolandCuthbert]

There was this simple idea that a government could exist, made up of the people it served. It was novel idea, totally radical at the time. We didn't need a "ruling" class". We just needed folks who were educated, smart, and represented the people from their district, country, state, etc., who could come together to form a government

Of course different non-"White" groups can talk about a myriad of injustices that took place over the history of this nation. But I think the vast majority admit that this system, if it ever gets to the point where it is fair, is the best framework one could hope for when it comes to government.

The fact is, that is now in jeopardy because "White" supremacy fears it has lost its grip.

Our greatest terror threat is internal.

[GearsofHalo117]

I agree with some aspects of your arguments
Without a doubt, American history is not particularly unique or brutal..
in regards to its time the United States was quite progressive and open
^ That seems silly in the modern day... but its ultimately true

The same is applied to the Great Peace which has existed since World War 2... largely led by the United States
where very few large scaling conflicts exist...
where large nation states have not fought each other in war...
etc


Sometimes we tend to look at the past though such a biased lens that we forget that people from 1800 were not the same as those from 2020
and that the main reason why those in 2020 exist.. is due to the cultural changes largely influenced by the United States itself.

[exitseven]

America has been great for a long time. Think about how many world changing inventions have come from the US. The US sent men to the moon. The US won a war on two fronts. In the US we have developed entertainment and literature that are famous the world over. The freedom we have in this country has been a blueprint for other countries.
America has it's problems but it is still a work in progress.

[TwoToTooTutu2]

I think it was and still is great. The best way to describe it is trough my friend who is from Cuba. She came here 14 years ago and she says that is was the greatest decision of her life. After I told her it was unfortunate that she had to go to a food bank to make ends meet she said to me "I thank God for what I have, many want the life I have, it is not so bad.".

[OddBeMe]

No, this is what’s stupid about it. Every new minute we’re living in the best of all possible times. No matter the strife or Covid set backs. Technology has never been better, lifespans never longer.

Now breaking down results into categories like education, social mobility, that’s complex. And the US has slipped a lot recently. Europe currency has the best “American Dream”.

[Snakeyes7]

Even if you don't believe it's past was ever great, you should still be proud of where you are now. Most countries have had despicable pasts too but I hardly see anyone over there wanting to destroy themselves because of that dark past.

Guilt over the past will only freeze our progress or even regress. Work on past issues and make the present as good as it will ever be. Thats why we learn history after all otherwise we would be doomed to repeat it.

[AndyOh]

We are about to see this great country of America go right into the toilet with the current regime.
Give it about 5 years.

[Dargil]

Hard work, patriotism and an enabling government system. Don't look now. It's gone.

[Agape93]

It was only great for those who had the money and freedom to enjoy it.

[AngelLily]

Great In other ways not In other ways.

[joeldalton]

You’re so silly.