Do you believe the US is the best country in the world? If not, then which?

[Anonymous]

The US is the lowest bar. It is the most racist and warmongering country on earth. First in climate destruction and spreading misery across the globe.

I am tired of being afraid of AR15’s gunning people down and racist MAGA’s killing POC every day.

We are trying to decide whether to move our family to Germany or Switzerland before 2024.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

+1 agree

And I would add, the US is terrible compared to all the rest of the developed countries in terms of gun violence. You don't have to live in the 'hood to be concerned with gun violence. Schools, churches, movie theaters, malls...

When I was in the UK I didn't once think about the possibility of a mass shooting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The US is the lowest bar. It is the most racist and warmongering country on earth. First in climate destruction and spreading misery across the globe.

I am tired of being afraid of AR15’s gunning people down and racist MAGA’s killing POC every day.

We are trying to decide whether to move our family to Germany or Switzerland before 2024.

I totally disagree re: bolded, and I have plenty of criticism about the US. The US is one of the least racist countries in the world. And I say this as a minority. Try going to homogeneous countries and living there.

ITA on the gun violence, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Canada. France. Any UK crown country. Switzerland. Sweden. Japan. Korea. Even Cuba is better in that their literacy rate is higher and healthcare is free for everyone.


It’s a pretty low bar, honestly, being better than the US.

France is better than America? Welcome to the land of constant revolutions and protests…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Canada. if you had no idea where you were going to be born or what you station would be, Canada is your best bet. You could get richer in the US or Hong Kong but you could also wind up on street.

I think that's the best test.

If you were about to be born -- but had no say in or knowledge of what gender, race, ethnicity, immigrant status, or socio-economic class you would be born into -- what country would you like to be born in?

I think Canada is a good one. The Scandinavian countries too. Possibly UK, France, Germany, etc. The UK still has class issues.

I think Americans have heard this is the greatest country in the world for so long that really a large part of our population doesn't realize what we don't have compared to other countries, like health care, higher education, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am a white, female boomer. When I was young, I thought so, but not anymore. I would say Denmark for white people + am not sure which country is best for POC.

[Anonymous]

Generally using absolute words like "best" just get you in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

Why did you put “access to clean water” this is not a problem in the USA.
I disagree about spreading democracy by force it didn’t work in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Best country by far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

China is by far and away the worst emitter in the world. Emissions from the US have been declining for years in terms of both total and per capita.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

Why did you put “access to clean water” this is not a problem in the USA.
I disagree about spreading democracy by force it didn’t work in Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan.

Flint, Michigan.
Jackson, Mississippi.

Spreading democracy refers to wealthy democracies acting as bulwark against inroads made by autocratic nations: Russia in Ukraine and China with its eyes on Taiwan are the most visible, but there is a fraught battle going on in developed nations for control of resources, just as there is a cyberwar going on regarding (dis)information and seeking to divide and weaken the other side.

Please become a more educated and aware citizen. These things are important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

China is by far and away the worst emitter in the world. Emissions from the US have been declining for years in terms of both total and per capita.

Because it manufactures the world's goods and exports them.
The USA is one of the major consumers of Chinese-made goods.

Please understand that Americans consume and waste so much compared to other people in the world. China, with its eye towards economic development over climate sustainability, has been happy to pollute in order to sell you products.

This is slowly changing because there have been climate-linked weather events in China, but sadly not fast enough.

OUR attitudes need to change. For example, Halloween. Are you going to buy all that plastic crap that's made in China, and then point fingers at them and say it's their fault?

I'm all for criticizing autocracies and defending Uyghurs, but people need to understand their role in carbon emissions here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

Give me a break. Liberals touted globalization in the first place. China is by far and away the biggest emitter because they rely heavily on coal for electricity and keep building new coal plants. They also pumped their entire economy with massive stimulus to overstimulate their real estate markets and infrastructure building. All of that concrete, steel, etc. that they used to build those projects had to be made with intense energy input.

Lol, but of course the US is to blame because of Halloween decorations.

Buzz off.


China is by far and away the worst emitter in the world. Emissions from the US have been declining for years in terms of both total and per capita.

Because it manufactures the world's goods and exports them.
The USA is one of the major consumers of Chinese-made goods.

Please understand that Americans consume and waste so much compared to other people in the world. China, with its eye towards economic development over climate sustainability, has been happy to pollute in order to sell you products.

This is slowly changing because there have been climate-linked weather events in China, but sadly not fast enough.

OUR attitudes need to change. For example, Halloween. Are you going to buy all that plastic crap that's made in China, and then point fingers at them and say it's their fault?

I'm all for criticizing autocracies and defending Uyghurs, but people need to understand their role in carbon emissions here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in several countries on various continents and my parents come from two vastly different countries. When they met, they had no common language, religion or culture.

So please believe me when I say that there is no "best" country.

Each country is good at something. Right now I live in the US on a visa. It's great for healthy young people who want professional opportunities. Not so great if you're poor and have to live in violent, gun-filled neighborhoods, with exorbitant medical care and intermittent access to clean water or internet. Other countries all have their advantages and disadvantages.

But if you're talking about what matters to global stability today, then I can think of two concepts:

1. Climate change - the USA is one of the worst offenders. This needs to change. Poor countries are dying now because of climate events, heat waves, drought and rising seas.

2. Democracy and spreading it around the world. Interestingly, even as democratic institutions are threatened domestically, the USA is still the defender of democracy abroad, confronting China and Russia, among others. That is something we need to sustain, with the help of our allies.

China is by far and away the worst emitter in the world. Emissions from the US have been declining for years in terms of both total and per capita.

Because it manufactures the world's goods and exports them.
The USA is one of the major consumers of Chinese-made goods.

Please understand that Americans consume and waste so much compared to other people in the world. China, with its eye towards economic development over climate sustainability, has been happy to pollute in order to sell you products.

This is slowly changing because there have been climate-linked weather events in China, but sadly not fast enough.

OUR attitudes need to change. For example, Halloween. Are you going to buy all that plastic crap that's made in China, and then point fingers at them and say it's their fault?

I'm all for criticizing autocracies and defending Uyghurs, but people need to understand their role in carbon emissions here.

Give me a break. Liberals touted globalization in the first place. China is by far and away the biggest emitter because they rely heavily on coal for electricity and keep building new coal plants. They also pumped their entire economy with massive stimulus to overstimulate their real estate markets and infrastructure building. All of that concrete, steel, etc. that they used to build those projects had to be made with intense energy input.

Lol, but of course the US is to blame because of Halloween decorations.

Buzz off.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I think the US is best. I am an immigrant fwiw.
I understood it during covid. Federalism is what makes it great. Luckily the central (federal) govt couldn’t impose authoritarian restrictions that Canada or Australia did. One could choose a state to their liking as well (be it a very covid conscious California or a near normal state like say North Dakota?)