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What metrics do you guys (Americans) use to measure how 'great' the country is? From the start this has puzzled me. Or rather is it a simple slogan one can con

What metrics do you guys (Americans) use to measure how 'great' the country is? From the start this has puzzled me. Or rather is it a simple slogan one can confidently spew knowing it's impossible to prove? (edit: I get that this is probably sarcasm, but it seems at least _SOME_ Americans believe it to be true)

TheAdamAndChe 8y ago
It really depends on who you ask. Stereotypical democrats nowadays primarily measure racial and gender inequality primarily, with economics and wealth inequality coming second and rural incomes and quality of life coming far behind. Stereotypical republicans primarily measure GDP, economic freedom, and total power of the country. Politicans like Sanders and Trump are rising because they focus more on issues like income inequality and declining quality of life for the lower and middle classes. Both address globalization and labor leverage, though they address it differently. While they are culturally diametrically opposed, they are still remaining popular because they are addressing these issues that other politicans don't address, seemingly because big money has caused them to ignore those issues.
- true_religion 8y ago
  Okay. I am a Republican, but I do not understand how our party can have leading candidates who are hereditary billionaires or multimilillionaires, yet trumpet that it is not corrupted by “big money”. I do not think money corrupts, if it did, then Republicans would be the first to suffer.
hopefulengineer 8y ago
If Clinton got in we were basically 100% going to war with Russia since she promised to create a no fly zone in Syria. I consider that a win. Not getting into a nuclear exchange with NK is also a plus. Trump is actually punishing China for the first time in decades. With Bolsonaro in office in Brazil we now control 80%+ of world soybean and corn production, meaning we can effectively starve China into compliance if necessary Economy is doing well, wage growth is above inflation for the first time in decades, 3.1% as of today's jobs report.
- pmoriarty 8y ago
  "Economy is doing well, wage growth is above inflation for the first time in decades, 3.1% as of today's jobs report." Why not give credit for that to the previous administration?

TheAdamAndChe 8y ago

It really depends on who you ask. Stereotypical democrats nowadays primarily measure racial and gender inequality primarily, with economics and wealth inequality coming second and rural incomes and quality of life coming far behind. Stereotypical republicans primarily measure GDP, economic freedom, and total power of the country. Politicans like Sanders and Trump are rising because they focus more on issues like income inequality and declining quality of life for the lower and middle classes. Both address globalization and labor leverage, though they address it differently. While they are culturally diametrically opposed, they are still remaining popular because they are addressing these issues that other politicans don't address, seemingly because big money has caused them to ignore those issues.

true_religion 8y ago
Okay. I am a Republican, but I do not understand how our party can have leading candidates who are hereditary billionaires or multimilillionaires, yet trumpet that it is not corrupted by “big money”. I do not think money corrupts, if it did, then Republicans would be the first to suffer.

hopefulengineer 8y ago

If Clinton got in we were basically 100% going to war with Russia since she promised to create a no fly zone in Syria. I consider that a win. Not getting into a nuclear exchange with NK is also a plus. Trump is actually punishing China for the first time in decades. With Bolsonaro in office in Brazil we now control 80%+ of world soybean and corn production, meaning we can effectively starve China into compliance if necessary Economy is doing well, wage growth is above inflation for the first time in decades, 3.1% as of today's jobs report.

pmoriarty 8y ago
"Economy is doing well, wage growth is above inflation for the first time in decades, 3.1% as of today's jobs report." Why not give credit for that to the previous administration?