How many of you still think that the U. S. is "the land of the free" and "the greatest country in the world"?

[Anonymous]

I'm asking this because I wonder what percentage of people actually believe this sort of propaganda.

I believe it all.

I sort of believe some of that.

I don't believe any of it.

[loveslongnails]

What is the USA actually #1 at? Here are some of them:

* Total wealth. There's more wealth in the USA than any other country. However, there is also more income disparity in the USA than any other country but Chile.
--- The top 1% control 31% of the wealth
---- The 99th to 50th percentile control 67% of the wealth
---- The bottom 50% control 2% of the wealthsource: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-visual-breakdown-of-who-owns-americas-wealth/
( Hey magats, notice how I at least list my source, unlike you all, and that it's reliable, unlike Fox Entertainment ) Can't wait to hear "left-wing commie media" spew from you.

* Median income per capita --- interesting stat considering the wealth imbalance
* Military power

Also #1 at:

* Most maternal deaths for developed nations
* Lowest overall life expectancy for developed nations
* Most money spent on health care per capita with least effective outcomes, such as lowest life expectancy and most deaths from avoidable issues.
* Most deaths due to gun violence overall
* Most child deaths due to gun violence
* Most mass shootings

and a personal favorite:

* ignorance -- Although there is no "official ranking", the USA is recognized by many polling organizations, such as Knight, Gallup and Pew Research in the USA, Ipsos in France, YouGov in the UK, as being most likely to struggle discerning facts from fiction, and to believe propaganda and misinformation.

A little over a year ago, 77 million adults in the USA concurred with the above.

[Jackblue]

What exactly is wrong with uneven wealth distribution, that is what I don't get. The health problems are attributable to the fact that we pay the world's healthcare costs. When Europe and Japan have been the dumping ground for the world's unwanted populations for centuries than we can talk about crime in those countries.

[loveslongnails]

@Jackblue The fact that you don't understand what's wrong with the distribution of wealth in the USA to the extreme degree that it is, which is in great part a cause of the problems faced by people living paycheck to paycheck, precludes any sensible conversation we can have.

Are Japan or Europe mentioned in my posting? No. Is the crime stat the ONLY one that phased you?

The USA is NO way pays for the "world's health care costs"; it pays for a good deal of DRUG research and development. In 2024, the profits of the five largest drug companies were as follows: Johnson & Johnson reported $35.15 billion, Roche had $13.76 billion, Merck earned $0.37 billion, Pfizer made $2.12 billion, and AbbVie reported $4.86 billion. Yeah, they earned THAT much.

How does that relate to Health CARE itself? It doesn't. IF what you said had ANY validity, which it absolutely does NOT, why in 2024, were the profits of the five largest health insurance companies as follows: UnitedHealth Group reported $14.4 billion, Elevance Health (Anthem) had $6 billion, CVS Health made $4.6 billion, Cigna Group earned $3.4 billion, and Centene reported $3.3 billion.

That's $1.7 BILLION dollars going to a FOR PROFIT middle man so investors and CEO's get rich off of illness. It's not "health care", it's a business, and that business thrives on keeping people sick.

[loveslongnails]

@Jackblue

[loveslongnails]

@Jackblue The USA will NEVER have a single payer health care system or universal health care because they are embedded in medicine for profit, not medicine for people.

Word of warning: do NOT come at me with bullshit about health care from Fox, or the GOP, or OAN or whatever you think you know about Obamacare, unless you actually KNOW what you're talking about. My S. O. has over 15 years experience in the field including everything from working with drug companies to running a state Medicaid program to developing national policy and advising Congress themselves. Add to that my knowledge of the insurance field and working with doctors.

Whatever you hear on TV or social media about "health care" is almost guaranteed to be bullshit, misinformation or disinformation.

[Jackblue]

Ok well I prefer sources other than the your bed mate. So lets take Johnson and Johnson their actual profits high though they might seem are only a fraction of their overall revenue. What that shows is that while they make billions they also have to spend billions. Small fluctuations in the cost of research could cause them to lose money and go out of business. Companies do all the time, even the big ones like Blockbuster and Bed Bath and Beyond. www.investor.jnj.com/.../default.aspx

[loveslongnails]

@Jackblue I don't really care if you choose to minimize my "bed mates" expertise. Her work and knowledge in her field is both well known and, as I said, used a resource for Congressional committees when deciding on bills. In other words, she knows what she's talking about. You've yet to show you have any clue when it comes to Health Care.

Again you've chosen to single out J & J, a drug company, offering a ridiculous suggestion that "a small fluctuation in the cost of research COULD cause them to go out of business" !! Hmmm... only if it was run by absolute idiots. LOL They're not a health care company.

J & J has been in business for 139 years. They have survived lawsuits in the billions, recessions, depressions, investments and research that didn't pan out. They've been accused of being one of those companies who leverages profits against payouts in lawsuits as well when it comes to certain products.

Blockbuster and BB&B... really? I mean REALLY? One couldn't adopt to the digital age. They were the IBM selectric typewriter in a computer world. They folded because they were dinosaurs and private equity got involved. BB&B was a victim of changing market conditions, Amazon's influence, the decline of malls and brick & mortar retail, and a questionable 12 Billion dollars on stock buy backs. Hmmm... where did THAT money go? To the investors who recognized their days were done due to those conditions perhaps? They didn't fold because of "bad research"; they were "folded" for profit.

After being acquired by Leonard Green's equity company they lasted 4 years before filing for bankruptcy and were bought out by Kirkland for pennies. They too are managed by an equity company and will likely go out of business in the current economy, facing extreme competition from TJX, owners of TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Marshall's and other world-wide companies.

[OneViewpoint]

We are NOT "exceptional" for any reason other than our delusions and insecurity about American Exceptionalism.

• We've just proven we are no better than Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy and Spain.
• We are stopping people in the the streets and asking for "your papers please".
• We are currently trying to restart the nightmare of Colonialism.
• We have an economic system, Capitalism, that isn't working for 99% of our population.
• We are the world's biggest arms dealer and are involved in constant wars. Our economy depends on that policy.
• Our healthcare system is built on depriving people of healthcare in the hope they will die before we have to spend any money on them.
• We sign treaties then break them whenever it is convenient for us.
• We have become an unreliable military ally.
• We are running a shakedown/protection racket with tariffs and military invasions.

The USA is now the land of shitbag morons and hate.

[FunkyMonkee]

For the most part, I do. We're not 100% a free country but, I can't think of any other countries I'd prefer to live in. Years ago, I MIGHT'VE gone for England but, from what I've been hearing, there's no way in hell I'd wanna spend the rest of my life there!! Maybe if they got someone like Trump in charge, I'd do it.
Right now, the only pitfalls I see that should be changed are the laws on marijuana, which I've been hearing are actually being changed, now and the laws on "public" nudity. Thankfully, things are getting ax in that department, too. I don't use drugs so, that's no personal slight on me but, if booze and cigarettes are legal and they each cause thousands of deaths a year, why should grass be ILLEGAL when it causes NO deaths (or so very few, it's hardly worth mentioning) and is even beneficial in a number of ways, including CLEANING OUT all the shit cigarettes put INTO your lungs? And, there are several other countries where you can go naked in public and it doesn't seem to harm or bother anybody else! There's already loads of nudist colonies that have proven there's nothing wrong with it and it harms no one! OF COURSE, I'm NOT talking about walking up to someone and shoving my dick in their face, I just mean, on a nice warm night or afternoon, why can't I just sit on my porch or go for a swim in the pool completely naked if I want to?
Also, you shouldn't get arrested for not paying your taxes since there's no law that says you HAVE to pay them! They are to be paid VOLUNTARILY! Even IRS employees have stopped paying them because they discovered there's no law saying they HAVE to.

[lightbulb27]

I just asked this...

If you want freedom to speak, where do you go?

It has deep flaws and there's other good places, maybe more beautiful like in Europe. Current government is actually fixing some of them. The only govt to fix some. It needs more work, but they have 3 years to do so. Not sure the world will be able to stand it though...

[Purpleronnie]

Well it may be perceived as the land of the free , but in most senses this applies to a range of countries unless we are talking about gun ownership law


For the “ greatest county in the world “ I simply think , greatest at what? , percentage of population incarcerated? Free speech protections? Gun violence? Income inequality? One of the most contradictory? One of the most powerful?

[Twodogs0525]

I've met hundreds of foreigners that have moved to the US and they believe it. I've met a hundred more foreigners that visit the US regularly and have fallen in love with it, most wanting to eventually move here. If they feel it is, who am I to argue?

[WindAtMyBack]

It's certainly the land of the free. Whether or not it's the greatest country in the world is highly subjective, but it's certainly among the best. Just ask the millions of people who want to move here. Ask the millions of people who came here and want to stay. They've given it a "test drive" and decided to stay.

[TwoDecisions]

No better place than the one filled with hatred and violence. Best place in the world. 👌

[TwoDecisions]

Also, the "land of the free" is the country in the WORLD with most locked up per capita. They SO free.

[TwoDecisions]

*Western world.

Still ranks in the top world wide.

[Jackblue]

So we catch criminals here instead of letting them continue their crimes, how evil of us. And no drugs aren't what sends people to prison https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2025.html

[Asker]

The real criminals are rarely caught and if they are, they aren't punished. Right now. One of them is president of the United States. So what does that tell you?

[Asker]

Rank by whom, please?

[TwoDecisions]

@Jackblue

Lol, perhaps go after criminal instead of innocent (you got a lot of those locked up too). And you have a lot of people in prison for drugs and minor crimes. 😭😭😂 You are not very bright are you?

[Jackblue]

If you think somebody in prison is innocent present your evidence, if we have a guilty man in office that is unfortunate, that doesn't mean that the justice system isn't accurate most of the time.

[AviatorTom]

I've been to about 50 different countries around the world. It's difficult to define the greatest country, since each has its own pros and cons, but people in the USA definitely have more freedoms than many of the countries I have visited, and that includes several Western countries.

[DryGermanGuy]

I never believed that and even one real* visit to the United States confirms that.
(* real in the sense of not being incarcerated in a five star resort with a private beach)

[DryGermanGuy]

https://youtu.be/pmM3uIHMltQ?si=iVLjUXhvNnAOyHig

[Jackblue]

We are and I will tell you why, we are the only ones to grant complete freedom of speech whereas even the most liberal other ones put people in jail for insulting Islam and things like that. We and Britain are also the only countries to require a trial by Jury in all criminal cases and Britain doesn't vet its jurors for biases in the way we do. We may not have public healthcare in the same way namely because as Trump has pointed out American consumers are paying the research costs for the entire world, but we are still the freest people on the planet.

[Asker]

The US does not have complete freedom of speech.

[Jackblue]

Well there are exceptions, soldiers don't have it, you can't yell fire in a crowded theater etc.

[TwoDecisions]

"we're the only ones to grant COMPLETE freedom of speech"
*5 minutes later*

"Well I didn't mean COMPLETE freedom of speech, there are exceptions!"

This is the only reason I love you Muricans. You are hilarious, so easy to laugh at.

[Jackblue]

@TwoDecisions Regardless we grant civilians the right to express their opinions without going to jail.

[Asker]

You also can't piss off an ice officer who might murder you.

[TwoDecisions]

@Jackblue

Lol, I'm not arguing for or against that. I pointed out your way of debating. Didn't take you long to have to back track because you lacked the ability to think through what you said. Despite of it being through written communication. Also freedom included more than just freedom of speech but somehow you focus solely on this.

And I'm not against hate speech and encouraging towards violence to have consequences. In fact I'm all for your actions, that includes your words, to have consequences. This does NOT hinder you from expressing your opinion.

And dear asker, there are so many ways to get free of murder in the US, it's insane. People can shoot their neighbours if they trespass, they can shoot a person and claim self defense but oh damn, if you're a minority or piss poor you might end up in rikers for being suspected of a crime. You can sit innocently jailed for DECADES because the system refuses to acknowledge that they can and do make mistakes. And that's despite of the false notion of a justice system that would rather let a guilty man walk rather than a innocent jailed. But hey, freedom of speech, that is the important stone of everything.

[Jackblue]

@TwoDecisions It is not a crime to annoy an ICE officer, if an ICE officer uses unnecessary force he should be punished but he too has a right to due process. False imprisonment happens and when it is discovered the people are released, often the guilty go free. Sometimes minorities convicted many times remain on the streets nypost.com/.../?utm_source=chatgpt.com We do the best we can with criminal justice, but we guarantee certain freedoms other countries don't. Besides freedom of speech I mentioned trial by jury. Meanwhile Britain fines men who burn korans even when they are attacked by knife wielders. humanists.uk/.../

[Asker]

@TwoDecisions we forget that the people who do the murder, in the instance we're talking about, are agents of the fucking government.

[TwoDecisions]

@Jackblue

Did I say anything about any ice officers? No I didn't. False imprisonment happens very often, and when it is discovered it often takes DECADES to go free. Meanwhile the rich like Einstein walk free for decades. But you keep on living in a fantasy. And I can't recall having anything to do with Britain or talking another them. I think I'm done with you. And burning the Koran is not a speech, it's an action, I thought you were whining about freedom of speech.

@Asker

Oh my goodness I'd be scared shirtless of the police there, not only are they the police - but often the jury, judge AND executioner. Not only that but they can lie through their teeth, and false confessions are not that rare of a breed there.

[Asker]

The guy that just killed that woman in Milwaukee is not even being investigated, much less tried, or getting due process or anything like that.

[TwoDecisions]

@Asker

Of course they're not. They'll probably get a medal and be celebrated.

[Jackblue]

@TwoDecisions If the Koran in question is his property and the fire isn't dangerous it is speech. His name is Epstein not Einstein, and in the end though he was a billionaire he got punished. That jail he died in is absolute hell.

[Asker]

She did not try to ram him. That is a vicious lie. She was also not an illegal alien.

[supercutebutt]

USA will be great again soon. Trump is dying and once he is dead and buried and rotting, his vile cultists will pretend they never supported the greedy/rapist/pedophile/murderer

:)

[red-lipstick-girl]

It's a great country compared to Afghanistan and Syria, but it's awful compared to a country like Switzerland; it matters which country you're in.

[andreasderjuengere]

I never believed it.
Although it could have been somewhat true until -say- 1800-something.
And seriously: whoever accepts a speed limit in traffic... has no idea what "freedom" actually means 🫠

[BadApple69]

Name a better country? Yes the left has tried hard to ruin it but we are taking it back.
Again tell me which country is better.

[Anonymous]

I think the fact that people from all over the world are desperate to live here is very suggestive. People from Latin American are risking their lives to live here. Europeans are entering lotteries to live here. And it's not like Americans are trekking up to Canada to live. The proof is in the pudding.

There is a lot of anti-American propaganda out there too, most of it coming from Marxists who hate the United States and it's capitalist system.

[exitseven]

It has been the greatest country in the world for the last 100 years. Everyone wants to come here. 20 million illegal aliens can;t all be wrong.

[RandomGirl42]

I believe America is a great country like many other countries. It's the spirit of the people that make a country great not it's politics.

[Anonymous]

It's a load of crap. The US has a lower quality of life than most other wealthy nations do. The US spends more on healthcare than any other wealthy nation, yet we have one of the lowest life expectancies. What are we paying so much for? Healthcare CEOs salaries? Australia, New Zealand, and Finland are all better places to live than America. Fuck some toothless fuck in Kentucky who says, "Merica! We are the best!" No the fuck we are not

[Jackblue]

We're not paying for CEO's salaries we are paying the research costs of drugs allowing Australians, Kiwis, and Finns to enjoy those medications.

[captain_voidwalker]

Do I think America is awesome with lots if personal freedom yes I do. But do I think it's perfect well no I don't. I do think we are better than the rest of the world.

[strateguy632]

outside of facebook and gag here, yes we are free

[Anonymous]

It IS the greatest country in the world. Kind of shows you what a toilet most other countries are. That doesn't mean America doesn't have problems, and doesn't mean we can't improve.

[DextroShade]

I challenge you to name a freer and greater country.

[Massageman]

The US isn't perfect, but it beats the rest.

[Twalli]

We are still the greatest country in the world. I'm not sure we will be when Trump leaves (if he does) in 2029.

[Sal_Monella]

Forget that we are the home of the brave, too.

[Miristheiss]

There sure are a lot of foreigners trying to get here.

There must be something good here.

[Asker]

There is a lot of agricultural work here for people who do things like picking crops. They get exploited a lot and they don't get paid much. But even so, this may be better than what they can do in their home countries. Additionally, a lot of foreign workers are victims of us propaganda and think this is a wonderful Paradise. They are of course profoundly disillusioned when they get here and find out what it's really like.

[Miristheiss]

I do know democrat led inner cities are a hell hole.
Outside of those arras the rest of the country is wonderful.
For people that want to work for and pursue their dreams... they can make it here better then anywhere else.

[Asker]

How do you know they are hellholes? How many of them have you visited? And how long did you stay in each one? Speaking of that, you said outside of those areas, the rest of the country is wonderful. How many states have you visited? How long did you stay in them, and where did you go? You keep making assertions without evidence - again.

[Miristheiss]

Chicago, LA, DC, New Orleans.
Blight, crime, bums peeing in subways, criminals not being locked up but let out, gangs, drugs, taxes, corruption.

[Asker]

Prove it. Particularly prove it in regard to LA where I live.

[Anonymous]

If Trump fall, i will belive completely again and will come to live in USA as i alwase dreamed.

[Asker]

There is a lot more wrong with the U. S. than just Trump.

[Opinion Owner]

For me USA is the perfect nation with no Trump, it was before, it will be after.
For me USA is the best nation on the planet, even if i'm not American.

[Asker]

That's because you don't live here yet. Try living here for a year, and we'll see what you have to say after that.

[Opinion Owner]

Please, give me visa and i come tomorrow.
I will stand by my words.
It take a lot for me to go back on them.
It should be USA the way my parents describe me Russia in order to not like USA.

[Asker]

Okay, don't say you weren't warned.

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks.

[supercutebutt]

Trump will be in Hell soon and then you can come to the USA! It was great and will be even greater once fatso is rotting in the ground. He is very unhealthy so his Earthly departure should come in the very near future :)

[Opinion Owner]

@supercutebutt Thank you, can't waith to make money for USA the land of FREEDOME!!!

[Dargil]

I do without exception.

[Anonymous]

The best country on Earth.

[noohair]

Rocking in the USA...

[beefcakebradybatson]

When were African Americans free?

[Smegskull]

The moment they set foot on English soil.

[Deserter3]

We're more free than most, but not free enough

[Zionne]

yes, it is.

[Mike_Hum]

It's better than most all others.

[Asker]

Have you been to all the others to see that?

[Anonymous]

I never thought so.