Question by Skull Boy: America The Greatest Country?
Has she done far more good for the world than bad?
Granted she’s made her domestic blunders such as slavery, the great depression, etc. And there have been huge mistakes in foreign policy, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. However, on balance does the good outweigh the bad?
Let’s look at just a snap shot of the good. America’s capitalistic, free market system has produced great inventors such as Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla. Their inventions alone have had a huge beneficial impact on the world: The phonograph, incandescent light bulb, cement making technology, motion picture camera, AC & DC power, DC motors and electric power generation systems, the battery, the radio, fluorescent light, AC motors and a gazillion other things people use every day and don’t think about. Where would we be without Bell’s telephone? The television? Then of course you have Bill Gates and Microsoft, the Internet, nano-technology, etc, all came from America. Suffice to say, peoples lives the world over would be drastically worse off without American technology. Disagree? How so?
Now let’s talk about medical breakthroughs. Where would the world be without Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine? Obviously 100′s of million would’ve died and been deformed. Then we have blood transfusion technology, the kidney dialysis machine, AIDS immuno-suppressant drugs, etc, all came from America. I could go on and on. The list of breakthroughs is staggering and mind boggling. All from America.
I won’t even go into some of major foreign policy victories such as saving the world from Nazism, etc.
People who say America is bad are either ignorant of history or conveniently forget the overwhelming good.
Truth be told, the world would be far worse off if America never came to be.
Do you agree? If not, explain how has America’s mistakes outweigh the good I’ve mentioned?
Wow…those of you who disagree are missing the point. I’m asking you to weigh the bad against the good I’ve mentioned. None of you have done that. Example, what US foreign policy blunder has negated the polio vaccine that saved 100′s of millions of lives world wide? How would the world be better of if America stayted out of WWII? Use your brains and use some comparative logic!
So many of you like Nina are ignorant to the facts. Did you not attnd history class?
Mr. Incognito….looks like your facts are incognito! LOL!! Which socialst-capitalist countries out perform the US. Who are they? You are ignorant and cannot back up what you say with facts.
US GDP was over $ 13 trillion dollars in 2007. Who had a higher one?
Read and learn…..https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html
Except “The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $ 46,000. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products.” No one can deny this fact.
And, iHeathcliff…you are obviously a frog, so that expalins it all. How many times has America saved your cowardly nation’s butt? The only thing france knows how to do is surrender. And yes, America has its racists, but the french are trying to through all their muslims out of the France. This makes you a hypocrite. Truth be told, their are for more zenophobic countries, just look at Japan, China and most asian countries. They’re the most racist in the world. India is horrible…look at the caste system.
You are all hypocrites for bashing America over things your countries have wrote the book on.
I’ve never denied that the US has made a lot of huge mistakes. we have a lot of problems no doubt. But all of you America haters are not able to step up to the plate and answer my question. Why can’t you compare the good and bad America has done and weigh them? I know why. You are either ignorant of history or you refuse to admit the truth.
In addition, you hold America up to a non-existent standard of perfection. Not reasonable. What is reasonable is to compare the good and bad that America has done to the rest of the countries in the world. You can’t do that either because America still comes out on top.
Best answer:
Answer by Hazuki Koyama
i luv japan <3
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Of course it is, you don’t see millions of people around the world flocking to Iraq or Iran do you?
There is no such thing as the best country its all about what u have pride for,I love america because it is my home but there is alot i dont like about it
the govt for the most part has always been bad, but our country is amazing because we have the ability to change it.
dont forget expansionism in South America, Korean, Vietman War, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Casualties upon casualties.
Every country has had a bad part in history…secrets…atrocities
America is the only country that has the diversity of people that it does..
America is the land of opportunity for whomever needs it and wants it
America is large, has every terrain possible
It has the best Universities in the world
it has great archictecture, land scape,
People bad mouth America yet look how they influence on music, clothes, television, art, stock market, science…
the list is endless….
I do agree. However, I do fear for America seeing we are now living in a period where there is a transition between world superpowers (That being China and India). I personally hope that America leaves the superpower status mildly like what her mother, Great Britain, done during the 1900′s rather than a violent conflict between it’s previous enemies (and maybe even allies).
God Bless America.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
People tend to look past these great achievements and mock us as being stupid.
I find it ignorant they make comments about us while they use American products like the internet.
Hopefully they will one day appreciate us as a country, not as obese idiots.
Of course it was America that developed the capitalistic system and freedom of enterprise that we have today. Other countries slowly followed suit and are now developing just as amazing things as we are. The only problem is getting rid of the morons that are trying to stop American growth and entrepreneurship. I hate Socialists.
I was actually thinking about this today. Its nothing short of a miracle to have something like a compound digged out of the earth, processed into a decent oil and then shipped and used in a machine that takes me where i need to go. The whole process is just incredible.
America is one of the greatest nations…but without help from our allies and lessons learned, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Actually, you are ignorant and do not know your history or conveniently forgot…Most of the medicine they are developed comes from herb and animal (research,, From Africa
You did not save the world from Nazism, but you did protect their scientist and what not by bringing them to the US…However England started the resistance way before the US got involved..that is history
Slavery was not a blunder, millions of lifes enslaved, tortured, raped, lynched, family torned apart and sold away from each other…is more than a blunder…Only a ignorant person would be so obtuse to that…
However, much the technology of late is imported or outsourced, so you should update yourself…
America is a great country when it works well and in concert with others to improve not only our lifes but lifes that help and assisted us…
Other than that, your shyt is untrue and low-brow at best.
Edit..I would have to say to you kiss my ass…
Fallen one..You sound so stupid.. No one said America invented slavery, America did not invent murder either, but in various states in the US they will definitely kill you for it and other will have a murdered spend the rest of his/her life in jail…So what is your point…Your rant on unemployment, immigrants..Is why America is disrespected.. Many expect Americans to be more intelligent that your rationale, you have definitely proven them right. Being proud of your country has nothing to do with wanting it to improve and to be better, if you did not have people like that in America history, you would not have the constitution, bill of rights and the rights to make amendments…You even have the right to be ignorant on purpose like yourself…you must have fallen to much over the years…But if you are feeling so patriot, how about suiting up and joining your brethens and sistren in Iraq or Afghanistan, I surprise you are not already there…
Are you sure it is not the closet fag republicans that are secretly hating on America..You know the ones at the airport,clicking their heels for blow jobs, while ranting on anti-homosexual and pro family values…Which one are you…Are you angry about your denial…BTW, sure we supply Japan with military, but that is not what theywant, that is history when we dropped bombs on them in WW2, they surrendered, part of the treaty was they only spend 10 of their Gross income on military, so they have military and they are begging for American military to leave…So what is your point…You are more an occupying force their than a support unit…
Edit… However, I do think you republicans and right loonies should pay the trillion dollar debt that Bush has indebted us to to China of all places, I thought repubs had a hard on for communists…Apparently, not their money…So as of today every man, women and child in America owes china 4,000 each and I have yet to reap any of the reward of this war on even an oil tanker in my name…Talk about a dumbass, I think you do not know your history…
You do not when people go to name calling, because they cannot argue the facts…Just so that you know…
I think the US has it’s fair share of bad and good, you’re right.
I just have to say that Nina is an ungrateful IDIOT.
I’m not here to say that America is “bad” per se but it is not the greatest.
Do you realize that much of the world hates (HATES, not dislikes or something more subtle, but HATES) America because so many Americans insist that America is the Best Country Ever.
Given, America has done many great things and made enormous advancements in medicine and technology and such but by no means should America ever be called the Greatest. You simply cannot compare countries this way. America has messed up too many times for the slate to ever be wiped clean.
And who’s to say that all the great things that America has given to or done for the world would never have happened if America didn’t? Perhaps a Japanese man would’ve discovered the polio vaccine. Maybe an Englishman would’ve invented the T.V. Or a woman from Wales may have invented the telephone. Just because America beat everyone else to the punch doesn’t mean that the world would still be without these things if not for America.
So yes, America has done great things (apparently) before the rest of the world but it is not the greatest. It’s not the worst, it’s not average, not even above average, it’s somewhere near the top, I’m sure. But not the greatest.
Yes, I came from horrible country and now i have freedoms I never had before tat and only wish my families could now come. god bless the america!
A country is only as good as it’s people.
Since the people here fail so does the country.
Every thumbs down I get is proof that Americans want to stay ignorant to the fact the most natives to our country are complete xenophobic degenerates.
Keep ignoring facts instead of acknowledging them.
Way to go America.
29,573 gun deaths per year and not giving a damn about it.
America is a force for good in the world even if she has made mistakes in the past “what nation on Earth or throughout history has not? at least we try to acknowledge these wrongs and try to fix them.
Nina M’s answer is priceless.
Absolutely flawless.
LOL, Japan is a garbage nation, great for a visit but terrible for living, a lot of racism especially against Blacks.
Also, Nina M needs mental surgery.
Now back on topic, a lot of the people that say America is bad are not from 3rd world countries for that matter even other developed countries (though people from England may make jokes about us and stuff but we are good friends with them). A lot of the people that bash America, are Americans. A lot of Countries in the world like England and Canada like America, we do have a lot of allies BUT, our own hate us.
Also, we ADMIT our mistakes unlike most countries that try to cover them up.
Yes, fact is majority of all people on the internet bashing America are Americans that think everything should be fed to them and given to them. Mostly lazy bums that lost their jobs because of immigrants doing it for cheaper, not complaining and working harder.
AMERICA has done more good for the world than bad. America did not invent slavery, most slavery during that time took place in Europe and still today a lot of those countries don’t welcome Africans or treat them as equals. If not for America a lot of the things people in other nations take for granted such as the internet, would not exist. Our medical break throughs have helped save a lot of lives in the world.
I have lived in Japan – it is not HALF as good as some Anime geeks make it out to be. It is overcrowded, filled with racism, and most of its technology, we influenced. Also, America provides Japan with an Army (DING DING! ANIME GEEKS! LISTEN! PAY ATTENTION! THATS A FACT!)
I have lived in Germany, it was a good country but expensive and still had a lot of civil problems. Also, there were a lot of fights there, I lived in the rich neighborhood.
I have lived in England, it was great but now it is being swallowed by Immigrants, and some of them are forming street gangs, and we do have that in America. Also, England’s economy fell from what it used to be years ago.
I have lived in France, Paris is a BEAUTIFUL place but the problem is, you cannot stay there for more than 5 years if you are an immigrant, they have strict immigration policies.
Those are some countries I have lived in and I can tell you that they cannot provide a life as good as America can. They have problems much worse than ours.
I agree with you and THANK YOU for posting this question, America has done A LOT more good things for the world than bad.
Also remember this, it is not other countries calling us bad over the Internet, it is those liberals, losers, failures at life, and high school dropouts that stay on the internet all day and blame America for their bad life. Americans bash America, sure, we have millions that show patriotism and love this country BUT also, we have those pathetic rats/skunks/idiots/liberals sitting in the shadows taking shots at their OWN country. Its sad that we keep them and do not send them off to other nations, I say send em to Somalia and let the people in the world that would work their hearts out come to America.
Give me thumbs down and call me names (to those pathetic skunkbags that live in America and hate it), but at least I love my home country.
You have countries combining socialism with capitalism who outdo American economy and society in many many aspects. Countries
having very high econmic competitiveness, ridicolously low corruption, ridcolously low rate of poor people, crime rates so low its a ridicolous, human development, real freedom and real democracy and real justice.
And when i hear Americans talk almost patrionizng about the world as if we are new to the concept of democracy and freedom its just mindboggling how a country that uses almost facscist-like indoctrination like “best country in the world” and “freedom and democry” “land of the free” at the same historically having such a dirty resume… millions of dead in the name of profit. No supower in the world becomes strong by being a nice guy. As the saying goes. “The one with the bloodiest sword usually has the power” and USA is just that.
Having fought from the very beginning to the very end and suffered 6 figured amount of people Russia did by large a majority of the job in Europe and they saved us from nazis.
In turn USA wouldnt have been able to invent what they did if it hadnt been for scientifical advances that happened in Europe and elsewhere back in the day. We take what we already have and develop from that.
And before you start to give me that cliche type americentric attempts to rationalize everything like “everybody wants to live here”(no they dont) “everybody are jealous but copy our style”(no theyre not) No im not underminding the good things and no i dont hate America but i despise indoctrinated idiots with no passport who claims to be the best. And as they say what goes around comes around and like all other previous superpowers trust me America will suffer.
While I have an over riding fascination for America, and it draws me in like a moth to a flame, ( I WILL get there and travel all over her great land one day!!) I am going to say that I think Australia is the greatest country in the world. But being an Aussie, I am of course very bias!!
I might add that while you may have AC & DC power, we have AC/DC the band!! LOL!!
And not forgetting the inventors for black boxes came from this great land I live too….and boomerangs, and vegemite!! Damn I love being an aussie…you need to come and visit one day babe and add an aussie tattoo to your collection!!!
xxx
American have attributed soo much to the world good and bad. I will say mostly good. Alotta european countries had a part in slavery it was white europeans that brought slaves to america and america wasnt even usa yet when that started. We invented loads more than you have listed i dont know why other countries dont appreciate it or try to take credit for it. Not bad for a not bad for a 232 year old country. Im proud to be american if other countries see that as being in your face then they have a jealousy issue.
AMERICANS INVENTED YAHOO so if you cant even appreciate that then get the f offf.
we are the worst contry..Americans think we are greattt but Asia countrys are better they have there youth in line same with middle eastern conutrys
then again there is still a lot of negative to answer for. For example the free market has given rise to major corporations that have wreaked havoc on the world. the greed of big oil has prevented the advancement of technology in the fuel and transportation arenas. computer companies making better faster machines at rate which nothing can possibly keep up resulting in more and more machines ending up in third world dump site where toxic fumes and carcengens are released by children melting down computer components for scrap metal for their parents to sell. The television and fast food have made the world fat and lazy. America has interfered where it wasn’t needed and ignored those who desperately need help, and her people are so closed minded that they won’t even adopt something as simple as the metric system. now I’m not saying that America hasn’t done a lot of great things but we certainly aren’t the perfection that we advertise ourselves as
county of peace nepal!
You know what? Every country has problems, and the U.S. is no exception. But we are a free nation. We have rights that other countries don’t have, and though some abuse these rights, think how bad it would be if we were denied them…it would sort of defeat the purpose of the U.S. We are a nation consisting of people from all all over the world, and all of those cultures have melted together. I’m not saying we’re the best country in the world, but I love America.
I think your question perfectly captures a few things about America I’ve never really understood.
On the one hand, there’s overblown hubris in America’s past achievements, and its claims to be the ‘best country in the world,’ despite glaring flaws, such as wildly unbalanced distribution of its wealth amongst its citizens, that, though obvious to outsiders, are ignored by Americans themselves.
But on the other, there’s such sensitivity and anger reflected in the question and some of the responses here, though admittedly on both sides of the coin.
And on yet another hand, it’s, most of the time, a wonderful part of the world. Have you ever been to New York in the spring time? It’s the epitome of what a big city should be. Have you ever driven through Maine in the fall? Even as an outsider, one feels pride in the neatly-maintained homes in small towns there, many of which have the stars and stripes flying in their front lawn.
And so much ambition and so little mediocrity in business, science, medicine, etc.!
Of course, America has made amazing achievements in science and technology over the past 2 centuries, which benefit most, but not all, of the world. Asking people to weigh the good and bad equally is hard to do; imagine a peasant farmer in Vietnam whose family was napalmed as a result of getting caught in the crossfire between the USA and Viet cong. Do you expect him to be grateful to the united states? How about everyday Iraqis whose houses have been bombed. Sure, they’re not the Americans’ targets, and I think most would know that, but do they care? Their house has been bombed. And are they really any freer, with suicide bombers and nervous soldiers around every corner?
I don’t think people are begrudging America its technologic and economic successes. However, I don’t think these spheres of human achievement are the only valid ones by which success may be measured. Its wartime miscues — and that includes WWII, as, for the rest of the allies, that war began in 1939 — and failings on domestic issues such as issues of race, poverty, needlessly polarized politics, and justice, leave America vulnerable to ongoing criticism.