Why do americans think the world is ending every time they are not number 1?

[Anonymous]

[EricSummer]

I find they often just still say and believe they are #1 regardless.

For example, they may casually refer to their country as the "freest country in the world" even though the World Freedom Index puts them at #15 with the #1 spot held by my own country, Switzerland. They are not even the freest country in America as Canada is seen as #6.

I don't really want to discuss the method of rating freedom, and maybe New Zealand could be number one instead, but many U. S. people will agree to this "freest country" claim out of habit without even considering the other strong candidates.

[GodsPinkyToe]

I've been to other countries including NZ and spent a ton of time overseas. Not one place I've ever been is as free as my homeland, where I can carry a gun on my hip, sayb whatever the hell I want without being murdered by the state and achieve anything I choose entirely on my own merit. No other place can truly say they are free to this degree and yes, in judge a country heavily by their gun laws. If you don't trust your people to be armed, your country isn't free.

[EricSummer]

In Switzerland we are generally permitted to own a gun over the age of 18 years. While there is a vetting process it is not prohibitive. So on this one we are top in Europe while not at par with the U. S. Gun violence is way lower here so there is a trade-off.

A really great thing is that we get to vote on the actual political questions like whether to conclude a free trade agreement with Indonesia (yes) or whether to get new fighter jets from Sweden (also yes). We vote at least a dozen such topics each year in addition to voting for parties and people.
In the U. S., the two-party system leaves many people without representation (what if I want neither Biden nor Trump which would even apply to myself).
During Covid we did not have curfews and the authorities treated us more respectfully than in neighboring Germany and France where schools were also closed way longer.

It's a small country so maybe the U. S. is the freest among heavyweights the size of France and bigger. Still, ours is worth considering.

[GodsPinkyToe]

A reasoned response and a factually correct one. I appreciate that you recognize the vast difference between a nation of the U. S.'s size and sheer diversity as opposed to Sweden which is more homogeneous (but not totally homogeneous) culturally and ethnically and much smaller.

And believe me, the difference those two factors make is massive. I actually have no argument or anything, though. There was nothing to disagree with. Though I still maintain that pound for pound, the U. S. beats anywhere else on earth on average.

Like for example, gun violence while it may seem like a 24/7 shootout if you only see what's in the news, is nowhere near that ubiquitous. Even in my home city of Detroit, one of the most dangerous cities in the nation for many decades now, I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen real gun violence up close and that's only because... well, it's Detroit and crime happens.

Good talk. You gave me food for thought.

[Noahzayed-]

Because they feel entitled for everything.

[ManofHistory]

It isn't that hard of an concept in my opinion, but that is coming from an American so take it with a house full of salt, lol.

To Americans, and the American government, as long as America is number one then we're safe. We can rely on having a better lifestyle, being more safe, and have bragging rights over the UK haha.

Speaking of the UK, I would be surprised if most, if not all, other super powers would also think the world was ending when they lost their supremacy. Countries like the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc. fought very hard to keep their top role in the global ranking. This, partially, caused WW1, WW2, Cold War, 100-Years War, etc.

And, for a lot of countries that rely on "the West", America losing her power is a nightmare situation. This ultimately would result in Russia and/or China becoming the most powerful country in the world. The Pacific and Europe are connected by the main English speaking countries; America, England, Canada, and Australia. Nato has a decent chance of losing control, due to the heavy reliance on American military. This is obvious as observed in the Ukraine crisis and the fact that the US, a country on the other side of the world, is providing 40-50 percent of the needed supplies.

[findacure4wokeness]

Because white countries run by white people who are compassionate towards the rest of humanity and most other ethnic groups care only about their own interests. POC flooding into the west for instance celebrate the white replacement and the destruction of western civilizations. Maybe white people aren't racist enough or self serving enough in a world the got small to quick. China has little consideration for the rest of humanity so their rise to power will be everyone problem soon.

[GodsPinkyToe]

Because if you're not the winner, you're a loser. And only losers like losing.