Have you lived in any of these countries?

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.

I believe the US is the best country in terms of developing and exporting the foundations of democracy.

Does that make it perfect? Absolutely not, and there are many ways in which the tenets of democracy can be further refined and strengthened to promote greater equity.

Fiji.

Japan, South Korea, Singapore

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?

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 have lived in different countries, on different continents and have parents from two countries (one being the US). I agree with the first poster. There is no "best" country. Most people, I have found, prefer their own country, warts and all.

As I get older, I lean towards quality of life—and I find that quality of life is much better elsewhere. Having and being able to buy a lot of sh**t as we do in the US is not the measure of happiness.

Anonymous wrote:Liechtenstein. For reasons.

only if you are filthy rich. 99% of Americans wouldn't be welcomed there. They don't have enough money.

Swiss alps

No such thing as a best country

Liechtenstein. For reasons.

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.

This is such a broad and vague question, but… food for thought.

I do think the most accurate answer for most people is that “the US is best at X, Y, and Z, but this or that other country is better at A and B and we should learn from them.”

But if you HAD to choose, on every metric that matters to YOU, in aggregate, does the US come out at number 1 to you, all things considered? If not, then which country? How familiar are you with that country? How would you describe your political views?