First the questions and answers:
1) Do you think the USA are the best country in the world, and can you tell us why (not) in one short sentence? NO it is not. The Plutocracy (rule of the rich) is one primary factor but the great unraveling of this country is ubiquitous and goes far beyond politics and has made America one of the major world problems instead of offering hope for the future.
2) What are your criteria for comparing countries? I use a formula that includes the quality of life, the amount of freedom people enjoy, the social infrastructure, the environment, the cost of living, the human happiness quotient, the political system, health care, geophysical and geographical factors, the climate, physical infrastructure, crime and safety, social awareness, and other factors.
3) Do you think you are well-informed about the rest of the world? Above average.
4) Are you making an active effort to inform yourself about the rest of the world, or do you listen to and watch what's presented to you? I’m well aware of the extensive bias and propaganda in the American news media. I actively look at a variety of news sources that I look at and draw my conclusions based on the most logical and objective analysis.
5) What is your primary source of information about other countries? I primarily use the Internet including real time news video thereon from a couple of dozen news sources. I seldom watch television. For detailed information, I read books, journals, go to regional discussion boards in different countries, talk to people who live there, etc.
6) Do you think your primary source of information gives you a fairly accurate, unbiased, and complete picture of other countries? Why? Not as much as I would like but an improvement over what the average American is exposed to. I don’t think you really get to know what other countries are like until you actually live there for awhile (as distinguished from a short packaged tour).
7) First-hand experience: have you ever been to any other countries/continents of the world, and for how long? Can you share some experiences with us? Mostly brief visits to Canada and Mexico. I plan on doing extensive international travel in a few years after I expatriate myself from the USA.
Having said this though, there are many good things to be said for the United States. First there are many incredibly good and open hearted, intelligent, and socially positive people in this country. People are often very friendly and want to do the right thing. The number of people who are truly deplorable humans is actually quite small. Another positive thing I can say about this country is that even while many people are corrupted by the economic system and continue to exploit others, a person can make a very good living here if they are smart, ambitious, and work hard. I have personally witnessed many people become millionaires. Yet another thing that is wonderful about this country is the many beautiful parks and wilderness areas and the pretty countryside.
America is also a land of research and ideas, some of which change the world. American culture offers hope of a better life for people around the world. It does have a lot going for it but I see the writing on the wall and recognize that for approximately the next 20 years this country is going into a cycle that has repeated itself clearly for the last 500 years and that is called the Fourth Turning or Great Crisis. In Western civilization these are the defining moments when a country either emerges to a new cycle of prosperity and greatness or ends up in bloody wars (the Civil War is one example of this cycle going wrong).
As the old saying goes: love it or leave it...well I plan on leaving it not so much for sour grapes but that I see myself as a world person now and no longer as an American. I think nationalism is just another manipulative tool used by others to subvert you and use you to their ends, such as is the current nationalistic campagin. Globalization will happen, much faster than we care to realize and the nation state will continue to lose importance and power whereas transnational corporations and other power elites will be those really in charge. In fact, most politics are about big business in this country not about what is best for the citizens.
How do other countries stack up? Many European countries and Australia have a higher quality of life, so does Canada. The American health care system didn't even rate in the top ten list the last time I checked with other countries. What I like best though are governments that minimize their role in your life and have the attitude of what can we do to improve the quality of your life instead of: put your wallet in my pocket.
Skipper
