Why is the United States a great nation?

Question

Few of the usual indicators would seem to suggest it is true any longer:

1) Freedom and justice? Patriot Act and secret military prisons and trials
2) Virtuous and standing by principles? Abu Graib, Guantanamo
3) Enlightened leadership? GWB
4) Standard of living? No longer in top 5
5) Economic clout? Fast diminshing. xx trillion dollar debt, balance of trade deficit to China
6) Education? Math, science scores down. Americans can't find Mexico on the map
7) Corruption? Congressional influence peddaling scandals. Halliburton no-bid contracts, influence of corporations in political campaigns.

I want to be a true patriot! Give me a reason for optimism

Add two more:

1a) Christian fascists taking over govt and schools
2a) Excessive arrogance (whoo hoo! usa number one >

Answer 1

I'd really like to help you be optimistic, but it seems I'm a bit short on that anymore. During the last few years, I've been embarassed to call myself an American after everything the Bush administration is doing.

The things you listed used to be what we had to be proud of. But, as you've pointed out, they're no longer benefits we can enjoy.

One thing to be optimistic about, we'll have Bush out of office in 2008.

Answer 2

As an engineer I can say that I absolutely do not want to get any girls pregnant. Child support would cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now if I was the type of person you see on daytime TV, I could have kids to 5-10 women without it costing me a whole lot because well I wouldn't have much. So by allowing stupid, lazy people to breed so much while I am deterred from doing so, we are naturally going to become dumber and lazier as a nation...so how is this something to be optimistic about? Well it could mean that the education system isn't actually getting worse, we're just getting dumber.

Dude I really can't think of any reason to be truly optimistic. That was the best I could come up with. Heck I even think education is getting worse because so much time is spent on standardized testing. Ugh.

Answer 3

i'm involved what you discovered lacking in England, Italy, Germany etc that wasn't lacking interior the states. All of those countries are in simple terms as wealthy, democratic and nicely developed because of the fact the states. all of us have friendly human beings and different custom. In Europe we've a deeper history and history and a few countries have performed a much bigger area interior the shape of the popular worldwide than the united states of a has. lots of the loose worldwide even have nicely knowledgeable proffesional militaries, France and Britain have Nuclear weapons. In in simple terms approximately each and every factor they're equivalent to the states and yet some human beings interior the united states of a elect to look down on them because of the fact they have a much bigger united states of america and interior the unlikely adventure of a conflict they'd win. i like human beings and that i like the country yet i do no longer think of that's from now on effective than something of the loose worldwide. individually i'm British and that i might say i've got have been given in simple terms as plenty reason to be happy with my island united states of america as you do to be happy with yours, if not extra.(in case you have chose to argue approximately that bypass onto my profile and digital mail me) the adaptation is that Brits have an inclination to be modest approximately it while alot of yanks bypass around shouting that they have got 'the perfect united states of america interior the worldwide', 'stay interior the land of the loose' and shield 'the only surviving superpower' to make themselves sense above human beings from different countries.

Answer 4

1) We have a lot more freedom than other countries.

Think of the countries as students going to school. Now think of the US as a popular high school ....I don't care....... football Jock. Now a lot of people look up to the Jocks, as do a lot of countries. Other people hate them with a passion, as do the terrorists.

2) Because of our standing (why I put in that para above) we can basically get what we need/want from other countries even though we're in such large debt with them all.

3) ummm.... I know there's a three......... give me a minute....

well anyway the first two are good lol.

Answer 5

You are correct on all those and I know it is scary that people of USA are about to loose their total privacy. Forum like these, e-mails and telephone conversations will be monitered without any warrant or notice.
There is one thing left that makes USA a great nation!
People can vote and change things!
People who do not support what is going on and want a change need to unite and vote especially in the November elections to restore a balance of power. If Democrats loose in November things will only get worst in the next 2 yrs. May God help USA!

Answer 6

For all those bad points you mentioned we are still in far better shape than the majority of nations around the world.We still have more freedom than most of the world and though we may experience limited terrorist attacks no country will dare try to invade us with an army so we are secure from that!Plus we try.For all of our faults.We try!!! Thats the best any nation or government can do.

Answer 7

1) Freedom of religion
2) Our females don't have to hang there head. They can get a education.
3) The sacrifice's and discipline most of our people in the military are giving.
4)You or anyone else can have your opinion known in public with out being killed.
5)Gods grace.

6) GWB
7)IN GOD WE TRUST IS STILL ALLOWED ON CURRENCY
8)YOU THE FREEDOM NOT TO BELIEVE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT PEOPLE ALL AROUND YOU. PUTTING YOU DOWN THROWING STONES AT YOU SPITTING ON YOU BEHEADING YOU OR MANY OTHER THINGS THAT OUR FOREFATHERS ESCAPED TO COME HERE.
9) DID ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY DIE FOR ALL OF THE FREEDOMS THAT YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY.
10)NO RELIGION IS TAUGHT AS ONLY BELIEF IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Answer 8

I'm in a great country that's in alittle deep ****, and walking deeper, I agree if we Americans dont get off our lazy asses and pull a 180, this place is going to go to hell pretty fast (not to mention in a couple years this place will be nicknamed mexico 2)...

Answer 9

Is it really? Look around you! I appreciate all the opportunities and freedoms I have indulged in as an American citizen but it really seems like the greatness of this nation is deteriorating.

Answer 10

very good points. but america is still great because we have the power as the people, and are free. it is a democracy after all (even though george bush tries to act like he can do anything he wants)