3 ms·
Just keep telling yourself that. Hint: the overwhelming majority of people in the world hardly ever think about America at all, and then usually only when it i
by ncmncm 5y ago
Just keep telling yourself that.
Hint: the overwhelming majority of people in the world hardly ever think about America at all, and then usually only when it is forced on them. You mostly only hear about the few who do, and imagine they are typical.
- ben_w 5y agoI’ve visited 20 countries, including the USA for a total of 4 months, and also Kenya (specifically Nairobi). While I would say the average American is in a similar position to the average European (some things better, some things worse), I think if my options were to switch lives with a random American or a random Kenyan, I’d pick American. I agree most people don’t care. I didn’t really want to leave the U.K. — where most of my friends were and still are — when the political situation made me feel it was no longer tenable to stay.
- ncmncm 5y agoIf Kenya is your benchmark, that says something. That on infant mortality we are trailing former SSRs should be troubling.
- ben_w 5y agoIt’s an anecdote based on personal experience, not a benchmark.
- vmception 5y agofor America fans, American exceptionalism relies on comparing America to the worst managed countries in the world. So you walked right into that. Stick with the comparison to Western and Central Europe because we need to normalize comparing America with developed nations. The US uniquely has the resources to implement 21st century advances, and just doesn't. This changes when acknowledging what other developed nations have and ignoring the developing ones, let China focus on them thats working out pretty well for them.
- ben_w 5y ago> Stick with the comparison to Western and Central Europe because we need to normalize comparing America with developed nations. But most of the world isn’t Europe either, so no, not in this case. > The US uniquely has the resources to implement 21st century advances, and just doesn't. It’s imperfect, and we all are. There’s stuff China does very well, and stuff it does badly[0]. There’s stuff the U.K. does well, and stuff it does badly. Israel[0], Ireland, Iceland[0], everyone. But the USA and the bits of Europe I’ve seen, they’re mostly (excluding Budapest, IMO) similar for quality of life — you just get to choose between a playground lacking a swing and a playground lacking a roundabout, when half the planet has the metaphorical equivalent of a tyre on a rope over a ditch and nothing else. Can the USA be better? I certainly think so. But it’s neither so good that the world looks at it in awe, nor so bad as to need to hide in shame. [0] not visited, but from the outside don’t think it would suit me to live in any of them
- ncmncm 5y agoIf you travel, you are most likely much better off than most Americans. It is a hellscape for wage workers.