Please note that this thread is not intended as an anti-American post. I am hoping that this thread creates thought-provoking and intelligent discussion.
I am presenting the thread as concisely as possible so I didnt go into greater details on my points. If I did, this thread would have turned into a book.
I have read in many places that America is the best country in the world. Why does it merit this title versus any other country? What makes any particular country the best in the world, and not just by definition one of having been born there?
I think it is impossible to quantify what makes a country the best in the world. There are too many variables to consider. This is why I dont believe that there is such thing as the best country in the world. There are better and then there are worse places to live in. Count your blessings if you were born in one of the better ones.
As a sample I will compare only two countries that I am intimately familiar with since I have lived in both for many years, the United States and Finland.
Both countries are generally good places to live in so I will not dwell in the negative aspects for there are to be found some in both. No country is a utopia.
What makes these two countries great places to live in are democratic governments, freedom of speech and religion, freedom to own property and establish businesses, relatively safe environment and general high standard of living.
Where United States supercedes Finland (and all the other countries, as well) is in their military power. The taxes are lower here than in Finland which allows greater access to financial success. In America, all the ethnicities live in relative peace with each other and the borders are always open for new immigrants which speaks volumes of tolerance.
Finland, on the other hand, provides universal health care, longer vacation times, paid maternal leave, great public education and university education without any tuition fees. (Finland is hardly multicultural so I cannot say anything about immigration policies and levels of tolerance).
The question then becomes, what services provided by the government are a priority for any particular individual? For instance, is it more important to spend more tax dollars on military than on universal health care system? Is it better to have lower taxes than practically a free university education for everyone? (There are an infinite number of questions that could be posed here but I am trying to keep this short).
For me, personally, I would not mind paying higher taxes if, in return, the society as a whole is well taken care of. Regardless of economic background everyone would have access to the same services, such as the university education.
New views would be appreciated, and not the same old arguments that I took the liberty in presenting here:
There is an argument that when the government takes care of the basic needs of its citizens, as in a socialist system, it breeds laziness. Most people, I believe, want to be productive members of any particular society. However, there will always be those who dont want to do their share, be it in whatever country. Laziness, lack of discipline and ambition have no national boundaries.
Then there is the argument that because everyone wants come to the United States, by default, it must be the greatest country in the world. I dont believe it is that simple. United States has established a precedent as a country of immigrants, unlike any other place in the world. It has one of the most open immigration policies which allows for greater access for foreigners. Had any other civilized country such an open immigration policy, the political and economic refugees might seek access to those countries as well in equal numbers. Also, many immigrants come here, not because it may be the best country in the world, but because of the financial opportunities. Some of them, once they have made their fortune, go back to their own countries.
An end must come to every point of view. To finish off, I feel very fortunate having been able to be born in Finland and being able to live in United States. Both countries are great in their own right. No ax to grind with either.
Thank you
I am presenting the thread as concisely as possible so I didnt go into greater details on my points. If I did, this thread would have turned into a book.
I have read in many places that America is the best country in the world. Why does it merit this title versus any other country? What makes any particular country the best in the world, and not just by definition one of having been born there?
I think it is impossible to quantify what makes a country the best in the world. There are too many variables to consider. This is why I dont believe that there is such thing as the best country in the world. There are better and then there are worse places to live in. Count your blessings if you were born in one of the better ones.
As a sample I will compare only two countries that I am intimately familiar with since I have lived in both for many years, the United States and Finland.
Both countries are generally good places to live in so I will not dwell in the negative aspects for there are to be found some in both. No country is a utopia.
What makes these two countries great places to live in are democratic governments, freedom of speech and religion, freedom to own property and establish businesses, relatively safe environment and general high standard of living.
Where United States supercedes Finland (and all the other countries, as well) is in their military power. The taxes are lower here than in Finland which allows greater access to financial success. In America, all the ethnicities live in relative peace with each other and the borders are always open for new immigrants which speaks volumes of tolerance.
Finland, on the other hand, provides universal health care, longer vacation times, paid maternal leave, great public education and university education without any tuition fees. (Finland is hardly multicultural so I cannot say anything about immigration policies and levels of tolerance).
The question then becomes, what services provided by the government are a priority for any particular individual? For instance, is it more important to spend more tax dollars on military than on universal health care system? Is it better to have lower taxes than practically a free university education for everyone? (There are an infinite number of questions that could be posed here but I am trying to keep this short).
For me, personally, I would not mind paying higher taxes if, in return, the society as a whole is well taken care of. Regardless of economic background everyone would have access to the same services, such as the university education.
New views would be appreciated, and not the same old arguments that I took the liberty in presenting here:
There is an argument that when the government takes care of the basic needs of its citizens, as in a socialist system, it breeds laziness. Most people, I believe, want to be productive members of any particular society. However, there will always be those who dont want to do their share, be it in whatever country. Laziness, lack of discipline and ambition have no national boundaries.
Then there is the argument that because everyone wants come to the United States, by default, it must be the greatest country in the world. I dont believe it is that simple. United States has established a precedent as a country of immigrants, unlike any other place in the world. It has one of the most open immigration policies which allows for greater access for foreigners. Had any other civilized country such an open immigration policy, the political and economic refugees might seek access to those countries as well in equal numbers. Also, many immigrants come here, not because it may be the best country in the world, but because of the financial opportunities. Some of them, once they have made their fortune, go back to their own countries.
An end must come to every point of view. To finish off, I feel very fortunate having been able to be born in Finland and being able to live in United States. Both countries are great in their own right. No ax to grind with either.
Thank you
