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>Is the government of the USA, UK, or other "enlightened" societies throughout history That sentence piques my interest, do people see the USA and UK that way?

>Is the government of the USA, UK, or other "enlightened" societies throughout history That sentence piques my interest, do people see the USA and UK that way? I think of Switzerland and Canada that way, for example, but my knowledge is all based on stereotypes. Maybe it depends where you're from, as the stereotypes must differ among regions.

AussieWog93 5y ago
The USA and UK, while not perfect, are absolutely more enlightened than, say, South Sudan or Saudi Arabia.
- mariavillosa 5y ago
  But almost all countries are more liberal than those two. My question isn't if the US and UK are the least enlightened countries in the world, but rather, if people see them as particularly enlightened among countries. Ie compared to any other random liberal country like Mexico or Czech Republic. I understand OP's point, just curious whether the examples used reflect a common perception. To me when thinking of stereotypically enlightened societies, I think of Iceland or Canada or something. The US I think of more as a business+war society, and UK seems somewhere in the middle, but much lower than the rest of Europe. This is based on nothing objective, just wondering what other people's perceptions of these places are
  - AussieWog93 5y ago
    I understood "enlightened" to mean "espousing modern values of enlightenment" - basically fostering a belief in science and reason and trying to push mankind further in terms of technological and moral progress. In this regard, both of those countries would be considered B-tier at worst.
    - mariavillosa 5y ago
      This is my perception as well. Not knocking either of those countries, just curious if they were thought to be bastions of enlightenment values.
itstheairship 5y ago
Canada. Where our leader has worn blackface more times than he can remember. Where our leader tried to give a nearly $100 million contract to his friends though back room deals. Where our leader shut down government during a pandemic to avoid an investigation into said deals. That is some pretty dim enlightenment.

AussieWog93 5y ago

The USA and UK, while not perfect, are absolutely more enlightened than, say, South Sudan or Saudi Arabia.

mariavillosa 5y ago
But almost all countries are more liberal than those two. My question isn't if the US and UK are the least enlightened countries in the world, but rather, if people see them as particularly enlightened among countries. Ie compared to any other random liberal country like Mexico or Czech Republic. I understand OP's point, just curious whether the examples used reflect a common perception. To me when thinking of stereotypically enlightened societies, I think of Iceland or Canada or something. The US I think of more as a business+war society, and UK seems somewhere in the middle, but much lower than the rest of Europe. This is based on nothing objective, just wondering what other people's perceptions of these places are
- AussieWog93 5y ago
  I understood "enlightened" to mean "espousing modern values of enlightenment" - basically fostering a belief in science and reason and trying to push mankind further in terms of technological and moral progress. In this regard, both of those countries would be considered B-tier at worst.
  - mariavillosa 5y ago
    This is my perception as well. Not knocking either of those countries, just curious if they were thought to be bastions of enlightenment values.

itstheairship 5y ago

Canada. Where our leader has worn blackface more times than he can remember. Where our leader tried to give a nearly $100 million contract to his friends though back room deals. Where our leader shut down government during a pandemic to avoid an investigation into said deals. That is some pretty dim enlightenment.