http://www.streettalklive.com/daily-x-change/1315-america-isnt-the-greatest-country-anymore.html
This weekend I had my first opportunity to watch "Newsroom," an HBO series, and I was struck by the opening sequence of the show as Jeff Daniels, aka Will McAvoy, discusses why America WAS the greatest country in the world - but no longer is. Here are the stats as he breaks them down:
The U.S. is:
- 7th in literacy
- 27th in math
- 22nd in science
- 49th in life expectancy
- 178th in infant mortality
- 3rd in median household income
- 4th in labor force
- 4th in exports
But here are some other stats where the U.S. ranks as well:
- 19th is State success
- 3rd in oil production
- 12th in prosperity
- 22nd in freedom of the press
- 2nd in child poverty
- 30th in nocturnal safety
- 3rd in "liking" the United Sates (behind Japan and Kenya)
- 11th in "happiness"
- 22nd in freedom from corruption
- 24th in "perceived" honesty
- 39th in income inequality
- 4th in employees "faking" illness
- 3rd in human development
- 10th in economic freedom
- 17th in credit "worthiness"
- 4th in global competitiveness
- 47th in infant survival
- 38th in trade freedom
- 8th in researchers
- 12th in thriving population
- 34th in the Children's index
- 61st in monetary freedom
- and, most depressingly, 50th in erection length.
You get the idea. The rise of economic strength was built on the backs of hard working Americans who built stuff from skyscrapers to railroads. We farmed, we produced and we raised families. The pride of "built in America" was the flag that we waved.
America just voted for a continuation of dependency. Dependency on government for handouts from food stamps to welfare. Dependency on the graciousness of our neighbors to continue loaning us money to support excess spending. America has become a debtor nation and the cancer of debt has eroded our economic prosperity.
Can America be great again? Absolutely. America has an indomitable spirit and a will to succeed unmatched my any on this planet. It just requires a spark to bring us together as a country to make the sacrifices necessary to return America to its former greatness. However, it requires great leaders that will fight for moral values, stand up for what is right, strike down the wrong laws for the right reasons, fight for those in poverty, care about our neighbors and put our money where our mouth is.
Yet it is great leadership that has been missing. Each leader has followed the same path of profligate spending and reckless disregard of the long term economic drain for short term economic gains. The country needs a leader that is willing to take the risks of failure to achieve success. A leader that is willing to fall to earth while reaching for the stars. A leader willing to accept the responsibility for his successes as well as his failures. Our Forefathers were great leaders. We have forgotten what great leadership meant. We have opted for mediocrity and self-indulgence and we have reaped the harvest that we have sewn.
It's not too late for America. Will McAvoy is right: "The first step in solving any problem is recognizing that there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore." We must acknowledge the program. We must choose to return to begin the long road to recovery by becoming an informed and educated electorate. We must begin making the right choices, sacrifices and demanding the same from our leadership. I have hope.
Warning: Video has strong language
Twinsdad's comments... The Dems own this now, they own everything, the good the bad and the ugly.
I say YO DEMS fix this bullcrap now, lead you jerks.
TD
ReplyDeleteThe article is a good summarization of the position as many of your foreign friends can see. I wonder however if Americans can see the same picture. It must be difficult for the population of the biggest, the richest, the most educated and the most inventive to accept the fact that suddenly your nation is no longer any of the above.
I fear your final comment may perhaps contain the kernel of the problem. You say the Dems own it all now and you tell them to "Lead". Fair enough sentiment I guess but you fail to tell us or the "Dems", that you will” follow.” The article does indicate that greatness will come from togetherness, with all pulling together. I too believe this to be the case with the emphasis on the pulling together part of the equation.
I think it is now time for you and other right wingers to allow the process of government to occur and to support the elected administration, or at least not trash them, as the country tries to become great again. It can be done but only by a concerted effort from all. In four years time it may well be too late, whichever party wins the big house.
Cheers from Aussie
Some see the issue we face very well as other see it quite differently.
DeleteOne group sees it as a systemic problem that requires changing the way government works. The other group see it as government is the answer. While government can assist in repairing some of the isssues we face however government is the root of many issues we have today.
The question is how to deal with a government that wants to be everything to everybody.
For example, government is the root of the debt issue, spending far more than the receive. Tax more or spend less, the division in our country. It requires both, with everyone sharing in the pain of taxation. Some more than others but everyone participating.
we have lost the trait of personal responsibility and transferred that to the government. Not sure how we will get that back as it's easier to take than to give.
"One group sees it as a systemic problem that requires changing the way government works. The other group see it as government is the answer."
DeleteAnd yet, when given the chance, the party you consider to be the party with one eye in the land of the blind does nothing but preach everyone but them wants a handout.
"The article does indicate that greatness will come from togetherness, with all pulling together. I too believe this to be the case with the emphasis on the pulling together part of the equation."
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, in my mind Kingston, that were have no defined path to pull together for. It's not a democratic or republican thing but a lack of vision and leadership from either party... no comprehensive energy policies, no sound budgets, no guidance. As spectators both democrats and republicans have much to scoff about and little to get behind. Leadership is lacking.... and we get what we vote for... People hold little stock in the real powers of the president, leadership, vision and inspiration and as long as integrity isn't one of the top traits we look for in a leader I fear that the US will continue to degrade in many of the things that make a country great.
You mention about how the rest of the world sees the US..... I have spent a good deal of my life looking at the US from the perspective of other countries and I have likened it to a petulant teenager... too young to understand and to old to listen.....
No plan for increasing employment, no plan for balancing the budget, no plan for reducing the debt, just more of the same.
DeleteFriday the politicians from both parties meet at the White House to discuss the financial issues coming at the end of then year. The president then jets off to tour Asia. Leadership?
Harry Reid has stated we will raise the debt limit. No mention of balancing the budget, cutting spending, just more of the same.
The presidents statements are full of nebulous, slippery words, such as “fairness” and “investment” and the never ending substitution of the word “community” for “government.”
this is where we are headed, are you ready for the ride?
"You get the idea. The rise of economic strength was built on the backs of hard working Americans who built stuff from skyscrapers to railroads. We farmed, we produced and we raised families. The pride of "built in America" was the flag that we waved. "
ReplyDeleteWe thrived while a progressive tax system operated with near confiscatory taxation on the top earners and while unions demanded and received a big chunk of wages for workers. As you noted Kingston in chiding TD, there are a lot of people here who are seething at the reelection of Obama and will choose to redouble their efforts to continue wailing that Obama sucks and lacks vision while accepting no blame that America decided the Republican vision for America was at best, no differnt and at worst, something they didn't believe in.
In my eyes, we have slowly dismantled the structure that allowed us to thrive and it started with Jimmy Carter in the 70's. Over time, we have ended progressive taxation, we have ended unions in the private sector, we have punished all Americans who save money rather then put it in the stock market to be fleeced away by wall street, we have opened our doors wide to allow our workers to be undercut by third world sweatshops, we have worshipped rather then denounced the climb of corporate profit while workers here BOTH became more productive AND made less money. Those are just some details, but the big picture is this, we have erased and now vilified the concept of working hard and distributing wealth in a way that sustains everyone. We no longer punish excess of any kind and indeed worship it.