Is the US really that exceptional?

[msc545]

I guess the US is especially exceptional at spending money on weapons.

[lightbulb27]

it be much more so if we didn't have to or choose to spend so much on military. 1 Trillion on military is um... a lot. others don't have to spend that because we are spending it. So they have extra $ for other stuff, like social.

France... france is great... scenery, fun places to go... but talk to the French, it ain't so great and they'd love to get out and come to USA. maybe better social support... all ya gotta do is fill out paperwork and learn French and ya get $2000 a month... no need to work. nuff said about that. But I will say, their food quality is generally better.

I don't have so much experience with the others.

USA is really awsome in some spots, and awful in others. The divided between the haves and have nots is problematic. The breakdown socially, the loss of family units is a major culpret, added with removal of religious support in human development around 1960's, and liberal ideas taking over schools... e. g. loss of discipline, can't use negatives... leads to major problems. in some areas of my state, 25%+ of kids drop out HS. That's fine if they go straight to trade school and get a job, but thats likely not the case.

[dynamicyandere]

It’s strengths and weaknesses, right?


The United States has a strong military, and in a way, was born out of war — the Revolutionary War of 1775, which resulted in the Declaration of Independence.


Military might is what established America’s freedom, and America has fiercely protected that freedom ever since.


So nobody can deny that the United States has a very formidable military.


As for other areas like the education system, healthcare system, prison system… There’s quite a lot of room for improvement.


Military strength and economic strength is what the United States does well.


But, many other countries have better healthcare systems and educational systems and legal systems.


Many of those countries that are run exceptionally well are smaller in size though. As a country gets larger (e. g. Russia and China) it becomes more difficult to manage.


The United States is almost the size of Europe, and each state has unique laws. Imagine having all of Europe united under their own single banner and working smoothly together. That would be a challenge.


The United States is far from perfect. But like with every country, it has its good strengths, as well as its weak areas.

[msc545]

Yes, I am sure that the Vietnamese, Iraqis, and Afghanis would have invaded the US had we not invaded them, destroyed their countries, and killed half their populations.

[dynamicyandere]

I never said that America was moral or just or righteous. In fact, it seems to act a lot more Machiavellian — making many decisions that only benefit their own interests. Many of the decisions for war were dependent on how it may expand the United State’s own power, influence, and wealth.

Just because America is good at war, doesn’t mean that it always engages in war for the right reasons.

The Roman Empire had a powerful military as well. Just because there’s a powerful military doesn’t mean they’re using it for good. But, everyone can agree that the Roman Empire, at it’s prime, had a formidable military and that its military might was one of its strong points.

[dynamicyandere]

The British had the world’s most powerful navy at one point.

It doesn’t mean that everything the British empire did was good.

But everyone can acknowledge the British empire’s ability to rule the sea.

[msc545]

Also, the US has lost every war since WW II.

[scentoflavender]

I think we are. But I'm sure others will disagree. That's fine. I'm glad they have the freedom to do so

[exitseven]

It all boils down to that. We are in danger of losing it however

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, but America needs to start protecting its nation and protect the people who live in it. We need to stop America from getting into conflict unless it's harming our Country.

[KrakenAttackin]

We are exceptional in that (in decades past) we have had a permissive culture and government that allowed amazing things to be accomplished in the average guys garage. The personal computer was created in a garage, so have untold thousands of other inventions that have benefitted mankind. The spirit of "let's give it a shot" is what is exceptional. We don't pigeon hole people by class or birth status. Of course being higher born has huge advantages, but an average person can do remarkable things in the U. S.

Look at the stuff guys do on YouTube in American garages, that wound be considered "criminal" in many European countries! Americans like to invent, explore, design, create... and fuck up... Yes, I have blown up my share of garages, caught my workshop on fire (more than once), and injured myself plenty of times; all in the pursuit of "creating" something. This is a part of basic masculinity in the U. S. Take a look at American muscle cars to see an example of what I am saying.

American "can do" mentality is what put men on the moon, made the atomic bomb ;), conquered Communism (until we bred it domestically), and created myriad other advancements.

Having said the above, I recognize we are rapidly losing the inventive spirit as males become more feminine, "garages" where you can blow things up are becoming fewer and fewer (due to HOA's and 1/4 acre lots).

[RealMarek]

Yes, in a couple ways. It was the global hegemon for a brief time and managed to delay the consequences of a default on its debt in 1971 by creating the petrodollar system and using military power to enforce it. The power of the empire was exceptional as was the greed and collective stupidity of its elites in squandering it, mainly by putting short-term personal profit and dogmatic adherence to ideology above all other concerns. This is unravelling now and the consequences during the next ten years will bring untold hardship to unsuspecting Americans. It is also exceptional in terms of its geographic resources (the bread basket of the midwest) and oceans protecting it from Eurasia. It is downright criminal on the part of our elites that we are no longer self-sufficient in terms of food production.

[exitseven]

Yes, the United States is the greatest nation in history. All the cultural and scientific developments that have been made in the last 250 years is unparalleled. It is true that the US spends a lot on the military but it is needed because all the threats worldwide that the US has. Looking at it another way, wealthy people need to have private security because there are many people looking to rob them because they have a lot of valuables. Nobody would break into a shack to steal what is inside.

America has lost ground over the last 3 years and is in a slump. I think this will be reversed but it will take decades before all the damage the Biden administration has done can be repaired. I still think America's best days are ahead of us.

[DryGermanGuy]

The United States have been in obvious decline since 9/11 and its ill-handled aftermath. Biden has nothing to do with it.

[exitseven]

@DryGermanGuy No nation on earth has had the sudden decline over the last 3 years than the US. All forms of measurements have been a dismal failure. Unless you ar the Taliban or an illegal alien there is really not much to celebrate. This is in direct contrast to the three years previous. Despite having a pandemic the nation as a whole was prosperous and there was hope for the future.

[DryGermanGuy]

Many countries have been in various stages of stagflation for the last three years, even China (!).

[exitseven]

@DryGermanGuy China started out in the toilet until they figured out how easy it is to btmribe American politicians. It started with Nixon

[slatyb]

It's wealthy because a bunch of post-industrial Europeans came her, dispossessed the indigenous people, then exploited the hell out of the abundant untouched natural resources. The most exceptional thing about the US is the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights. Also the persistent religiosity after the rest of the developed world has mostly moved past that.

[glennos89]

Us economy most likely will crash if they stop spending on war. WW2 made them rich because of the sales in war equipment and they continued making money till this day. Before WW2 the US wasn't major economy by any means

[msc545]

U. s is still not what you deem a major country. It's just the most hated country in the world.

[glennos89]

@msc545 For obvious reasons the most hated country in the world

[msc545]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

We used to be. The American dream and the land of opportunity was once real. Now the elites funnel the money up.

[FenixG45]

Sad, isn't it? Imagine if military spending was used more judiciously?

[Anonymous]

What is it with Liberals and their weird hatred of the country they live in?

[msc545]

What is it with people who have no reading comprehension?

[Rangers]

Exceptional in every category, except arbitrary nonsense like that

[msc545]

sure, social spending is arbitrary nonsense?