4 ms·

US definitely has exceptional successes, but there are so many systemic flaws which other countries may or may not have, and where US could vastly improve. * H

US definitely has exceptional successes, but there are so many systemic flaws which other countries may or may not have, and where US could vastly improve. * High medical costs * Highest maternal mortality among developed countries * Highest income gaps * High education cost & the vicious circle of college debt. * Increasing trends of bankruptcy & paycheck-to-paycheck sustenance. * Lack of public transportation issues in most places * Very oil dependent economy. * Gun violence. So many lives needlessly lost every year. * Growing mental health & opiod crisis * Lack of public awareness about current affairs (& to some extent apathy even) * Waning trust in judiciary & in parallel the rise of the rich oligarchy * Interference in politics of other countries * Equality of diversity (in true sense) is still to be achieved given racial profiling persists * The extent of personal freedom without state agencies keeping track of activities. It definitely has successes but there is a long road to being a model nation. But US as a nation has demonstrated the capacity to overcome odds in fortitude. There is hope - but a sense of cautious hope

throwaway5959 4y ago
Ok, now do positives.
- m000 4y ago
  American companies and billionaires are doing great.
- srvmshr 4y ago
  Sure. The reasons where US shines & is able to draw talent is probably several of these: * US is absolutely the leader in innovation. No doubts about it. * Champion of democracy. The US political system & constitution has inspired a lot of other countries. Its a very immaculately drawn political system built on checks & balances * High degree of choices to an individual to shape his life * High degree of demographic diversity. * Good quality secondary & college/university education. * A general attitude to question the status quo - which is necessary to bring change. * Secure nation militarily. * Peaceful & cooperative neighbors, who engage symbiotically for the better of all stakeholders. * High social mobility for a lot of people (not all but a big chunk). * Good quality of life in general. * Very high natural diversity & plentiful resources. * Ability to shape the political climate to maintain world order.
  - tester756 4y ago
    >High degree of demographic diversity. Why is it good? and for who?
    - srvmshr 4y ago
      A very homogeneous country like Japan (I could speak for that only, being a current resident), is generally inure to the culture of people around the world. Foreigners don't stick around long because they are like the thumb sticking out. One feels left out if not thick skinned enough. In US, I always felt at home. There were people just like me - eating similar food, sharing different festivities, of same socioeconomic strata etc. Eventually inclusivity & diversity retains immigration. US (& UK as well) does better than most other developed countries
  - mikkergp 4y ago
    How would you measure that the US is the leader in innovation. US News says Japan: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/innovative https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/innovati.... World Intellectual Property Organization says Switzerland: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2021/article_0008.html https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2021/article_0008... Bloomberg says South Korea: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/south-korea-leads-world-in-innovation-u-s-drops-out-of-top-10#xj4y7vzkg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/south-kor...
    - srvmshr 4y ago
      If you ask my personal opinion/ experience, I would factor 3 things 1. The presence of top research institutions across a wide spectrum of science & technology. 2. The footprint of this research in reputable publications & conferences. 3. The amount of capital investment to bring ideas to products. If we consider this practical yardstick - US is ahead by a fair margin to any other country.
      - palmetieri2000 4y ago
- ncmncm 4y ago
  Exceptionalism is supposed to be all about positives. So, the list is about failures of exceptionalism. That exceptionalism is taken to forgive all transgressions is itself the problem.
pedalpete 4y ago
I was thinking along these lines as well. It's as if those who believe in American Exceptionalism and add up the metrics like the OP did think this is an addition only process. Ok, you've created the greatest military power, but your country can rarely go through a day without mass shooting of it's own citizens by it's own citizens. How does your military power help your country if the greatest threat to it's citizens comes from your other citizens? You created an economic power, but you can't afford to provide medical services to a huge portion of your population. When you do provide medical services, the costs are significantly higher than any in any other country. So what has your economic power purchased you? Another television? More sugary and unhealthy foods?
stjohnswarts 4y ago
This reads like a sudden kick to a friend in the nads and then telling him "you're a pretty good guy". What is the point of a post like this? It's not balanced at all if your last statement is to be considered. If you don't like the country then just come out and own it.
- srvmshr 4y ago
  My comment wasn't to wax on further to the original post. There are glaring issues which US faces & can improve vis-a-vis developed countries with similar quality of life. Its a bad idea to push deficiencies under the rug, pretend they don't exist & call it an 'exceptionally exceptional' country
- thiht 4y ago
  OP didn’t say they don’t like the US, but that there are tons of things to improve. Thinking US is the best country in the world and rejecting the issues is why it’s considered a shithole by a growing population of the world. As a French, the US seems like at third world country to me regarding social rights and benefits.
cat_plus_plus 4y ago
Correcting these problems would involve pretty significant tradeoffs. For example, lowering medical costs includes improving public fitness, which will be branded as fat shaming. Improving maternal outcomes includes health education for girls that makes maternity a major focus, at odds with American feminism. Combating drug addiction involves strengthening borders. Reducing gun violence means discouraging fatherlessness and educating boys to maintain self control at all times, aka "toxic masculinity". Note that I am not saying that these are the only causes of the problems you mentioned, but they are significant. And I agree that you can go to far with these and sometimes being more free / subject to less societal pressure to conform is worth sacrifices in health and safety. Just so long as we understand the tradeoffs and don't blindly look at perceived benefits of other countries without also looking at sacrifices made for these benefits.

throwaway5959 4y ago

Ok, now do positives.

m000 4y ago
American companies and billionaires are doing great.
srvmshr 4y ago
Sure. The reasons where US shines & is able to draw talent is probably several of these: * US is absolutely the leader in innovation. No doubts about it. * Champion of democracy. The US political system & constitution has inspired a lot of other countries. Its a very immaculately drawn political system built on checks & balances * High degree of choices to an individual to shape his life * High degree of demographic diversity. * Good quality secondary & college/university education. * A general attitude to question the status quo - which is necessary to bring change. * Secure nation militarily. * Peaceful & cooperative neighbors, who engage symbiotically for the better of all stakeholders. * High social mobility for a lot of people (not all but a big chunk). * Good quality of life in general. * Very high natural diversity & plentiful resources. * Ability to shape the political climate to maintain world order.
- tester756 4y ago
  >High degree of demographic diversity. Why is it good? and for who?
  - srvmshr 4y ago
    A very homogeneous country like Japan (I could speak for that only, being a current resident), is generally inure to the culture of people around the world. Foreigners don't stick around long because they are like the thumb sticking out. One feels left out if not thick skinned enough. In US, I always felt at home. There were people just like me - eating similar food, sharing different festivities, of same socioeconomic strata etc. Eventually inclusivity & diversity retains immigration. US (& UK as well) does better than most other developed countries
- mikkergp 4y ago
  How would you measure that the US is the leader in innovation. US News says Japan: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/innovative https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/innovati.... World Intellectual Property Organization says Switzerland: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2021/article_0008.html https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2021/article_0008... Bloomberg says South Korea: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/south-korea-leads-world-in-innovation-u-s-drops-out-of-top-10#xj4y7vzkg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/south-kor...
  - srvmshr 4y ago
    If you ask my personal opinion/ experience, I would factor 3 things 1. The presence of top research institutions across a wide spectrum of science & technology. 2. The footprint of this research in reputable publications & conferences. 3. The amount of capital investment to bring ideas to products. If we consider this practical yardstick - US is ahead by a fair margin to any other country.
    - palmetieri2000 4y ago
ncmncm 4y ago
Exceptionalism is supposed to be all about positives. So, the list is about failures of exceptionalism. That exceptionalism is taken to forgive all transgressions is itself the problem.

pedalpete 4y ago

I was thinking along these lines as well. It's as if those who believe in American Exceptionalism and add up the metrics like the OP did think this is an addition only process. Ok, you've created the greatest military power, but your country can rarely go through a day without mass shooting of it's own citizens by it's own citizens. How does your military power help your country if the greatest threat to it's citizens comes from your other citizens? You created an economic power, but you can't afford to provide medical services to a huge portion of your population. When you do provide medical services, the costs are significantly higher than any in any other country. So what has your economic power purchased you? Another television? More sugary and unhealthy foods?

stjohnswarts 4y ago

This reads like a sudden kick to a friend in the nads and then telling him "you're a pretty good guy". What is the point of a post like this? It's not balanced at all if your last statement is to be considered. If you don't like the country then just come out and own it.

srvmshr 4y ago
My comment wasn't to wax on further to the original post. There are glaring issues which US faces & can improve vis-a-vis developed countries with similar quality of life. Its a bad idea to push deficiencies under the rug, pretend they don't exist & call it an 'exceptionally exceptional' country
thiht 4y ago
OP didn’t say they don’t like the US, but that there are tons of things to improve. Thinking US is the best country in the world and rejecting the issues is why it’s considered a shithole by a growing population of the world. As a French, the US seems like at third world country to me regarding social rights and benefits.

cat_plus_plus 4y ago

Correcting these problems would involve pretty significant tradeoffs. For example, lowering medical costs includes improving public fitness, which will be branded as fat shaming. Improving maternal outcomes includes health education for girls that makes maternity a major focus, at odds with American feminism. Combating drug addiction involves strengthening borders. Reducing gun violence means discouraging fatherlessness and educating boys to maintain self control at all times, aka "toxic masculinity". Note that I am not saying that these are the only causes of the problems you mentioned, but they are significant. And I agree that you can go to far with these and sometimes being more free / subject to less societal pressure to conform is worth sacrifices in health and safety. Just so long as we understand the tradeoffs and don't blindly look at perceived benefits of other countries without also looking at sacrifices made for these benefits.