Why does the bar have to be this low? I hope we could be better.

American football. Don't confuse the Euros, or anyone else in the world but Americans.

Name me one other country that could survive multiple George W Bush presidencies

Iraq. Survived W. and H.W.

I didn't mean "survived" as in the land mass is still there

Yes, the probability of being born into a completely dysfunction family (or single parent household) is higher in the USA than in Switzerland or Norway, but does this really mean the USA is an inferior nation to either of those? They simply have populations that are from wealthier backgrounds on average (few descendents of slaves, lots of aristocratic types).

Given at least a decent upbringing and mental capacity, life in USA > any euro country.

Only country that really give the USA a challenge is Australia imo, and that country is much more expensive.

Great idea. This one would be a good start: http://killinghope.org/

Be sure to check out the map further down the page. I'm sure we can add a few more countries though; we all know there have been many more lucky ones who've received the gift of "democracy" since 2004/2010.

QED?

I believe the US has the potential to be a great country. If we end the FEd and institute a decentralized currency controlled by the people. End the income tax and all the state taxes, the US has a chance to be great. Unlike Europe we still have some open land without a fence around it with a sign called TAKEN on it. Taxes on gods land should be high enough it is only loaned to people during their lifetime.

This is like saying the modern Yankees shouldn't be considered a great baseball team because their owner was willing to spend a ****load more money on them than other owners. It doesn't matter what the reason is - they're still a good team.

Seriously, what do you base this on? What is the difference between Australia and the US? New Zealand and the US? Life in Canada is barely different than life in the US. What factors make the US better and these others worse?

Well we have Silicon Valley, the biggest bombs, the best TV and movies, the most diverse selection of great food.

Still, in general, Germans are smarter, more productive, have more quality time off, and IMO are more courteous.

South Korea has better Internet and breakdancers

Tough to say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

1 Norway 0.943 ()
2 Australia 0.929 ()
3 Netherlands 0.910 ( 4)
4 United States 0.910 ()
5 New Zealand 0.908 ( -2)
6 Canada 0.908 ( 2)
7 Ireland 0.908 ( -2)
8 Liechtenstein 0.905 ( -2)
9 Germany 0.905 ( 1)
10 Sweden 0.904 ( -1)

Kommunist Kickball is not football.

What? I lived in the US for 4 years (I'm Norwegian), and the first thing I emphasize when people ask me about my experience there is how the people there are the nicest, most fun and most helpful I've ever met. Germans on the other hand I feel are more introvert, very wary of strangers, and not helpful at all.

Yeah, I think it is pretty clear that the US is the greatest country. I mean, half of these "countries" I've never even heard of.

Not sure if serious but in what way are you qualified to make this assesment? Do you have intimate knowledge of every other country in the world? Enough to pass judgment on all of them and deem them inferior to the US?

Your logic is really, really, flawed here.

They probably don't talk about this much in Taxachusetts, but in many places history books are outlawed. So count your blessings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_states_by_HDI

1. Connecticut - 0.962
2. Massachusetts - 0.962
3. Hawaii - 0.961
4. California - 0.958
5. Minnesota - 0.957
6. New York - 0.957
United States Average - 0.956 <- No idea how this makes sense, I'm just quoting
7. New Jersey - 0.955
8. New Hampshire - 0.950
9. Rhode Island - 0.950
10. Colorado - 0.949
11. Washington - 0.946
12. Illinois - 0.946
13. Maryland - 0.945
14. Virginia - 0.945
15. Vermont - 0.944
16. Norway 0.943

I feel like the US actually has to be superior, because it manages to be a very good country despite being governed like crap. Most European countries are governed very well and they generally only manage to be around as good as the US or slightly better. QED

Plus Europe is going straight to Mad Max land just because they entered into a suboptimal currency union. We can blithely threaten to default on our debt, and only 1 rating agency even downgrades us.

Facepalm (jesus I didn't think I could slather on the sarcasm any thicker but plenty of people missed it), but you hinted at a great point!

The people saying "no" to the OP have some good points about why america sux but the thing is the question isn't "is america awesome" it's "do you think america is the best?"

The thing is SOMEONE has to be number one. You can't just show that america is crappy, you gotta show that some other country is better.

People must have missed it because of all the other illogical posts you make .

Blue states ftw

So rich people vote Democrat?

How do you feel European countries are governed any better than the US? You're probably a lot more up to date about the internal problems of the US than you are of the internal problems of most European countries.

Guess it depends on your definition of 'better'. Would like to see the US government focus more on improving the situation of the disadvantaged in their own country and less on getting involved in military adventures abroad.

That said, I have been over there a few times and it looks a fantastic place to live. Be nice to get my hands on a green card. If any young ladies are reading this, I have a sexy accent and I still have most of my teeth.

I've already posted this info ITT, you can find it imo.