Reuters - America world’s Number One? Think again

I suppose if you say something enough times then people start believing it.
Until, that is, someone comes in and actually looks at the details:

On the World Bank list, the United States came fourth behind Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand. In the Bertelsmann study the United States ranked a dismal 27th. It shows the United States as the country with the biggest rich-poor gap of those examined, except for Mexico and Chile. On providing health care, it ranks 23rd; on access to education 20th. Five Scandinavian countries – Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland – topped the list, prompting the conclusion that social justice and economic performance are not mutually exclusive.

America world’s Number One? Think again

Who needs healthcare and eductaion when you can be permanently at war?

The United States spends almost as much on military power than the rest of the world combined and even if that expenditure were cut in half, it would still be more than its current and potential adversaries. The current defense budget is higher than at any time since World War II and could be cut substantially without risking the country’s security,

Poverty? Just invade another 3rd world hole trying to get on its feet and steal their oil.

Is there a link between that kind of military spending and America’s poor showing in the social justice study? It’s a question that merits debate.

One of my favourite books is Thoreau's "Walden"
That is what the American spirit was and should be again. The pioneer spirit, where a man was a man and not a sheep or cannon fodder.
But even he got carted off by the police and spent the night in jail because he opted out of the system....

Originally posted by Aestheteka

One of my favourite books is Thoreau's "Walden"
That is what the American spirit was and should be again. The pioneer spirit, where a man was a man and not a sheep or cannon fodder.

Agreed totally!

Here is a link to Walden

There is a ton of additional information and resources there as well.
I highly recommend it for everyone.

There is some great information here, S&F, anything that confirms what I have been saying for years gets my nod...

I'm trying to source the CNN graph they did a while back that projected America would no longer be number one by 2020....

Pretty unreal stats here, considering most of the Americans on this site would tell you the US is number one, I often hear US political leaders claiming the US is the best.... which makes me scoff each time, maybe next time you hear anyone say it, refer to this thread.

reply to post by Aestheteka


One thing I'd like to add is that other countries weed out those who don't have the skills and force them in to trade schools. For example in some countries you have the right to elementary and middle school education. But for high school you must take an entrance exam, pass and get accepted fail and hello trade school or welcome to the work force.

Most people don't know that America was once this way. Most people at best had a 8th grade education, unless you lived in a city which most did not until the end beginning of the 20th century.

For Example my great grandfather graduated in the early 1900s with an 8th grade education. He then took a test and was able to become a teacher in Wisconsin. Then during the 1920s he came to Detroit to work for Henry Ford. My Great Grandfather always had a knack for math so his forman told him to sign up for a job a the trade school. He did and low and behold he was accepted. He later went back to school got his GED and a Bachelors degree in Mathematics. And ran the math department at Henry Fords trade school.


America allow everyone regardless of of who well or how poorly they do to have access to education so I take these surveys with a grain of salt.

Can we do better? Yes!

Should we do better? YES!

Will we do better? ah maybe.

The USA is in bigger trouble than you think due to the CDS on European debt

They are asking (Guns to the head) for banks in europe to take a 50% haircut on the greek debt but thats only half the story because the debt was insured ten times over because you don't need exposure to the underling asset to take insurance out on it.

What we have is the USA being the counter party to all this insurance in europe and a little place like greece is able to blow the whole thing up due to leverage.

Name one time in history when banks have taken an haircut when they have an insurance policy on the debt ?

it's like winning a game of monopoly but you know the other guy has a gun pointing at your belly under the table and dare not walk away from the table.

Yes folks it really is that bad.

Who in their right minds would pump money into the US education system, anyway? That's like flushing dollar bills in the toilet. Those kids will still be fat and dumb and undisciplined.

reply to post by JBRiddle


One thing the West is sorely missing is trade schools. We are missing skilled workers like electricians, plumbers, mechanics, etc. These use to be highly respected 'Master' jobs. Now EVERYONE goes to university and earns a diploma which has zero worth on the job market. After all, how many managers or economists or sosial workers do we really need?

reply to post by Aestheteka
*chant*
We're number er. . . 20!
We're number 20!
We're number 20!

Sadly, we'll be ranked lower before long.

There are trade schools in the U.S. sported by the gov. its called Job Corps.

jobcorps.gov

The United States cannot prevail at anything because our government, and too many of our citizenry, are occupying their times with the empire. They would easily sacrifice everything here at home to keep their power abroad, regardless of the consequences. For all those who desire a great re-awakening in this nation we must pray that the end of ‘Pax Americana’ is arriving, the overthrow of the American empire is the only way for us to do for our citizens what is right. Corrupt leaders and busybodies worry about empire, working people worry about their daily lives. It is time we get back to caring about our neighbors health and safety, not the health and safety of nameless faces thousands of miles away.

”Republics mind their own business. Their governments have very limited powers, and their people are too busy practicing self-government to worry about problems in other countries. Empires not only bully smaller, defenseless nations, they also can’t leave their own, hapless subjects alone.... Empires and small government aren’t compatible, either.”

Source

reply to post by JBRiddle

One thing I'd like to add is that other countries weed out those who don't have the skills and force them in to trade schools. For example in some countries you have the right to elementary and middle school education. But for high school you must take an entrance exam, pass and get accepted fail and hello trade school or welcome to the work force.

I had never heard of this - being forced into trade schools.
What countries do this? Would they be middle eastern, Asian, African? Those are the place I know very little about. I can't think of any other countries that would force a particular education.

It is a good way to take care of shortages of welders, gas fitters, pipe layers, plumbers, electricians, construction, etc. , but these days those trades do take skill.

I've always though more trades should be taught in high schools, right now it just seems to be drafting and woodwork that the high schools teach up here.

More Americans need to see and understand these facts and figures. I for one love my country but I am a practical person and I see how we as a nation are so fundamentally lacking in so many critical areas. Our government has taken and kept it's eye off the ball for so long now the turnaround has such far reaching consequences.
Seems to me very few are willing to prioritize our real problems and address them. It is much easier to create problems today than deal with the ones which already exist. The current foreign policy is a drain on our society and doesn't make us look good in much of the worlds eyes. Yet it sucks up so many resources much better suited to being utilized in a domestic policy. I for one don't like the idea of big government by any stretch however, it doesn't even use the tools and resources it already has in any successful manner. So many reasons why we are so delusional, so many reasons to get mad and right the ship, too many sheep harmlessly passing their time in the grasslands.

reply to post by snowspirit


Some Nordic countries do that. Not sure which exactly.

reply to post by Aestheteka


yeah try convincing the -----------> Hick, close-minded, bible thumpin, bigoted, live like/for Jesus( but greedy and judgmental), anti drug (but on adhd/anti-depressant/or other mood enhancers), never been across america (let alone abroad), love watching bright colored only turn lefts (not real racing), that A'merca aint only the best place on earth but also the richest and blessed by 'their' god promised land. I mean come on those fellers in ethiopia would eat those peas you are throwing away..

I mean they went to public school and learned everything..AND. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Kudlow all agree.. America is Number One..

"AND IF YOU DON"T LIKE IT LEAVE"....You communist, hippy, athiest, gay marriage supporter, socialist,..."before I punch you in the mouth" (just like Jesus was known to do:@@


well thats what I usually get when I tell people these facts..I mean Ive only been to foreign countries what d I know, billy bob, delbert, and the preacher all know more than I do anywway..