Why is america the best country on earth?

1. America spends 51% of tax dollars on the armed forces (even though they are the biggest and best in the world)

2. America ranks 12th on the human development index, this is a combination of life expectancy, literacy, education and the gross domestic product, i.e. the standard of living.

3. America incarcerates more people than any other nation on earth. the incarceration rate is 4 times that of the rest of the world.

4. The majority of americans have a very insular perspective on the rest of the world. they don鈥檛 care. apathy and ignorance reign supreme for the average american in regard to what is going on in the rest of the world.

5. America ranks 37th worldwide in quality of healthcare. that is not where the greatest nation on earth should rank in an area that is so incredibly important. france and italy are #1 & 2. we鈥檙e behind nations like oman, colombia, saudi arabi, united arab emirates and costa rica, and cuba is just 2 spots behind us.

6. America ranks 12th worldwide in test scoring for 4th graders, 28th for 8th graders and 19th for 12th graders.

7. The American government, the richest on earth by far, ranks 12th among first world nations in regard to the percentage amount given towards humanitarian aid, such as charities, development in foreign nations, international disaster relief, etc.

now tell me how this can be the greatest country on earth???

"Who on earth said that America is the best country on Earth? Seems pretty misguided to me"

every american i have ever met, american tv shows, movies, etc.

Lets look at the immigration, how many people from all over the world either come here or want to be here? How many Americans leave here for good to live anywhere else?

Just because they, America, spend the most on their military, it doesn鈥檛 mean they have the best. It doesn鈥檛 matter how much you spend on 'defence', or aggression. If your military is known internationally as the 'friendly fire' squad, you have a more or less sub-standard military.

USA, or North America isn't the greatest country on earth. It has the potential to be the greatest country on earth though.

Excellent points you have raised here. There are many more unanswered questions like this aswell.

the whole country is more corrupt than here have you not noticed the financial problems stemming from america and the killings of innocent people in the wars that they don't want to end.

Who on earth said that America is the best country on Earth? Seems pretty misguided to me

Who ever said it was?

because you live in it

If it's so great, why do I want to emigrate to Europe?

Simplest answer is because you don't see any questions here asking, "Why is (insert country here) the greatest in the world?"

Don't like it? Don't visit. Don't eat at McDonalds. Don't watch movies from Hollywood. Don't drink Diet Coke. Throw out your Ambercrombie and Gap clothes. Also, petition your governments to not ask for and refuse offers of foreign aid. Withdraw from any military or political alliances you may be party to.

I was born and raised in the United States. I love my country and your damn right I think it's the greatest in the world. My wife is from Ecuador. She believes her country is the greatest in the world.

Who's right? We both are. Thats what being a patriot is all about.

Americans arn't ignorant, *people* are. Where you were born has nothing to do with it.

P.S. - Either your sources are crap your making stuff up. We spend over 50% MORE on foreign aid (15.4%) and than on defense (9%), and four TIMES more on Community and regional development (28%)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United...

I'm not going to even waste my time on the other stats.

America is not the greatest country on earth; it never was.

These neanderthal Americans that say these things have not been educated properly. There are many wonderful Americans out there.

Having said that.........there are many neanderthals all over the world from every country that think they are above everyone else.

Actually, America is a leader in helping impoverished countries receive basic supplies and medical care to ensure their survival. Many would have died without the generosity and help from the US government. Sadly, as the economy declines----America will no longer be able to help.

Perhaps your country would like to take its place?