Like it or not Euros, we're the best country in the world

[Velociryx]

All this nit-picking is well and good to a point, but the central fact remains that the US government was structured in a way that was, at its inception, unlike anything that had come before it. To pen down a bill of rights for citizens, to proclaim equality for all (true, that "all" was selective at the outset...no denying that, but since then, the sheer flexibility of the system--another inherent strength--has evolved to become much more inclusive. Is there anyone who would disagree with this?)....unheard of! To turn our back on the divine right of kings and royal bloodlines? Egad!

So yes...I would say that there are some pretty significant differences.

Does this make the US of A the "best"? I would contend that BEST is far too subjective a term to have any real relevance. Best by what set of criterion?

Likewise, the USofA has the largest economy in the world. This is not a matter of conjecture or debate, but an economic fact of life. Still, this does not constitute a notion of "best" (though it does point to an indication that folks in the USA have a certain knack for using and growing capital...if not, we certainly could not have grown and surpassed our European fathers inside the short span of 200 years).

-=Vel=-

[Roland]

"that the US government was structured in a way that was, at its inception, unlike anything that had come before it."

True, but not for the reasons you give.

"To pen down a bill of rights for citizens"

Where do you think you got that idea ? England 1628, England 1689.... and a bunch of feudal charters before.

"to proclaim equality for all"

In the constitution ?

"the sheer flexibility of the system"

The US Constitution is very rigid.

"To turn our back on the divine right of kings and royal bloodlines?"

Cromwell had that idea before the yanks.

[Velociryx]

Feudal Charters. The counter-arugment is in your own words. Feudal implies a lack of equality, no matter how you look at it.

I never said the constitution proclaimed equality for all, but yes, that notion is important to the fabric of the government itself.

And it seems that, on balance, we agree....thus, no further debate required....least not on that subject....

-=Vel=-

[Lemmy]

Mainly what I'm saying is the US is the most powerful and influential country in the world now.

And you just discovered this or something?
This has been like this for a long time you know, and no rational person would deny it

I'm saying it mostly because someone in a thread wrote that the US wasn't the best country in the world or even the second best.

You really should rework your definition of best .

[Roland]

"Feudal implies a lack of equality, no matter how you look at it."

And that after you admit that the "equality" of 1776 was selective.

Bills of rights go back to that. The Magna Charter or, much more far reaching, the Argonese Priviledge of Union.

The US constitution was not the result of some colonists suddenly discovering freedom. It was the result of blending many european ideas and traditions into a modern system that works in practice. That's its merit.

[Velociryx]

Got me on that one, but as I say, it appears that on balance, we agree. The notion of "best-this" and "best-that" is a rather silly one, and the government of the USofA was a unique construct when it was fashioned. A unique construct that clearly had its roots in numerous European models.

-=Vel=-

[Giovanni Wine]

Actually
The first country/nation to give rights to women was Rome.

When it was at her start, and still a Repubblic, Ancient Roman women were able to vote and have a political career.

Then, of course this ended when Rome switched to Monarchy.

Saluti

[optimus2861]

Hate to throw fuel on the fire, but... according to the UN's quality-of-life rankings, the USA doesn't even make the top 5 . For 2002, the top 10 nations in a composite measure of life expectancy, education, and income per person were:

1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Canada
4. Belgium
5. Australia
6. The United States of America
7. Iceland
8. The Netherlands
9. Japan
10. Finland

Note that this does not imply "best" or "better" in any respect, as the differences between the measurements are in some instances miniscule, and of course it is based on a specific set of data. Choose a different set, and you'd get different results. This list is well-known in Canada, as we topped it from 1995-2000, and our federal government made mileage out of it, to the UN's chagrin.

source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/020724/6/nt9i.html

[Clear Skies]

Wow UK doesn't even make the Top 10! Guess Blair ain't been doing as much right as he claims...

[SKILORD]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Like it or not Euros, we're the best country in the world

Originally posted by red_jon


Yeeees. Be black in Florida. Try to vote. Cry.

The President was decided by the supreme court. The latest recount had Bush at only a 66 vote lead and it was getting smaller.

By an unofficial recount he actually won.

.... i think

[Combat Ingrid]

Originally posted by optimus2861
1. Norway
2. Sweden

Damn Norwegians, they must have cheated

[Nubclear]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Like it or not Euros, we're the best country in the world

Originally posted by SKILORD


By an unofficial recount he actually won.

.... i think

Depends on which recount you want to believe.

Anyway, I predict in about 30 years....well, lets just say most americans wont quite be as arrogent as they are today. We'll see what happens.

[Sandman]

This sort of breathtaking arrogance does not endear Americans to me, I'm afraid.

[Traianvs]

Re: Like it or not Euros, we're the best country in the world

Originally posted by johncmcleod
guess who invented jazz? Americans.

Guess who invented the sax... a Belgian named Adolphe Sax, from Dinant, Belgium, so eat my shorts

i reckon you wouldn't be much with jazz without the EUROPEAN saxohpone ain't it?

[Pekka]

So... it would be safe to say it's best to live in Scandinavia, right? .