Why Is America the Greatest Nation on Earth?

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**Ouze**

That's only because there was no oil there.

They find oil on the moon, we'll be back in 3 months.

**Ratbarf**

er...what?

Please elaborate on this "dreary state of affair"...

I think I would beg to differ.

Well, you've essentially become an Empire, your constitution is run over roughshod by your politicians and government nearly everyday and no one seems to care, your legal system is broken, your government is the most irresponsible out of the entire Western World, your democracy is broken, and the federal government and president frequently overstep their authority and no one bats an eyelash, infact they're frequently lauded for it. Lincoln was the pebble that started the avalanche, though he was more of a boulder than a pebble.

Basically if the founding fathers were to suddenly come back from the dead (with their faculties intact of course) I feel they would be utterly ashamed of what their once great country has become.

**Cheesecat**

Ratbarf wrote:
er...what?

Please elaborate on this "dreary state of affair"...

I think I would beg to differ.

Well, you've essentially become an Empire, your constitution is run over roughshod by your politicians and government nearly everyday and no one seems to care, your legal system is broken, your government is the most irresponsible out of the entire Western World, your democracy is broken, and the federal government and president frequently overstep their authority and no one bats an eyelash, infact they're frequently lauded for it. Lincoln was the pebble that started the avalanche, though he was more of a boulder than a pebble.

Basically if the founding fathers were to suddenly come back from the dead (with their faculties intact of course) I feel they would be utterly ashamed of what their once great country has become.

I heard that America is a nice place to live, apparently they have running water and electricity.

**JohnnoM**

Brother Captain Alexander wrote:
Because it is made of almost all nations of Earth combined ( settlers and all )?
Because of to much freedom it gave to it's citizens?
And because they use superior military power and diplomacy to get what they want trough war or sanctions?

WARNING: the posts in spoiler are probably not for Americans to read. No offence of any kind is written but it's still not for their eyes/

Spoiler:

Don't get me wrong, I love American people and culture. But I hate how their love to mess with foreign relationships and stick their nose into other countries business. Ok, so you helped us kick Hitler and won WW2 - thank you. That doesn't mean that whenever civil war or simple war starts you have to sanction and bombard everything, leave other countries business for them to handle ( like Syria, who cares if people die that's their internal thing and we shouldn't interfere ).

But that era will be over soon, as US economy is weakening and China is becoming stronger and stronger every day. Not to mention that Putin is planning to form USSR again ( as Euroasian Coalition yes, but still... ) and that he already reform and modernize Russian army. It is only a matter of decade when US will not be lone superpower anymore in the world.

US had a LOT of luck when it comes to history and warfare. With French help they won war against the British ( the only nation who was able to beat them in long terms ), and they are in position where they cannot be attacked by anyone ( 2 oceans form natural barrier for any other superpower to attack them ). They helped won WW1 by sending million solders when Germans already spent all their reserves. They helped won WW2 by overwhelming their foes like Orks ( they had 80,000 planes all types and over 50,000 Sherman tanks, do the math and it will get clear ) and they ended it by nuking two towns into oblivion...

But on the bright side US have many positive things, like giving every individual chance to succeed in life or at least having a normal life if it's possible. I also love many of US cities, how they are build and their monuments and buildings. I also love music bands coming from US and the thing I love most when it comes to USA - NASA

To tell you the truth, I would love to come and work in US some day. Because it's still great country for you to earn some money and actually build a house and secure you and your next two generations from several years work in it.

I absolutely love it when people who have no idea what they are talking about use this (the bolded, underlined and italiced text in the spoiler) as an argument for why America is bad, it makes me lol, hard. However, I don't want to start an off-topic gakstorm, so i won't say anything.

**Deathshead420**

How can you ever answer this kind of question?

If i had to pick a greatest nation I would pick USA, not because I believe it's the best, because I couldn't pick the best, so I default to where I live.

I have never gone hungry, I have had a job since I was 14, I have had cable tv and internet for most of my life.

I have also been busted for smoking a plant that grows from the ground, peeing on a bush in a park, and being outside after a certain time( three different incidents btw)

Plus babyback ribs!

**BolingbrokeIV**

**marv335**

Jihadin wrote:
No one can grill like us americans

You've clearly never been to either Argentina or Australia.

**Deathshead420**

I went to a Brazilian steak house in Chicago and it was some of the best food I have ever had

**labmouse42**

Madcat87 wrote:
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.

The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.

Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Bromsy wrote:
Put a man on the goddamned moon.

What have you done for me lately?
The last time a man set foot on the damn moon was December 1972.
We should be ashamed that its been 40 god-damned years since we did anything significant in space. Not touting how great it was.
First, NASA needs an overhaul. If private companies can spend people into space for less than it costs the government of China, NASA is doing something wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX
Secondly, after the overhaul, we should dramatically increase the NASA budget. NASAs budget is less than half it was (as a percentage of federal budget) than it was in 1992. Bring it back to a level where it can do some good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA

**Seaward**

labmouse42 wrote:
Secondly, after the overhaul, we should dramatically increase the NASA budget. NASAs budget is less than half it was (as a percentage of federal budget) than it was in 1992. Bring it back to a level where it can do some good.

Democrats don't fund NASA nowadays. No votes in it.

**labmouse42**

Seaward wrote:
Democrats don't fund NASA nowadays. No votes in it.

Neither do Republicans. Bush and Obama have cut NASA.

Both parties are equally at fault. This is not a partisan issue. This is a US issue.

**Krellnus**

labmouse42 wrote:
Madcat87 wrote:
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.

Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.

Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.

**Seaward**

You're contending that Australia's more powerful than the US?

Okay.

**labmouse42**

Your argument has a few flaws in it, good sir.

Krellnus wrote:
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources

First, you make the assumption that because Australia produces more of those goods, that the US is dependent on the goods from Australia. Just because something is black, does not make it white. In a similar fashion, just because Australia produces more of those goods does not mean the US produces none.

Krellnus wrote:
natural resources = power

By that logic, countries like Iran and Canada should be world powers due to their high amount of natural resources. Russia should be considered the most powerful nation in the world, by far.
http://247wallst.com/2012/04/18/the-worlds-most-resource-rich-countries/3/

I use GDP as the measuring stick because purchasing power is what effects the world economy. If the US falls, the global economy will take the biggest crash from any single country.

Note, I do not talk about 'quality of life' as what makes a great country. This is because 'great' is a very subjective term. If your talking about quality of life, then Ireland is where you want to live. Australia is also better than the US in this category.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index

**PhantomViper**

ENOZONE wrote:
What do you think? Why or why not? If not, which is and why? What defines greatness?

The only measure in which "America" might be considered the "Greatest Nation on Earth" is because you have the biggest military in said world.

By every other measurable quality, America is middle of the road to poor.

**thenoobbomb**

Why would the USA be the greatest nation on earth?

**BolingbrokeIV**

thenoobbomb wrote:
Why would the USA be the greatest nation on earth?

Belt sizes.

**Frazzled**

The USA is clearly the best. We utterly dominate the processed snack food industry.

**kronk**

Anyone that says Country A is better than Country B is usually an idiot, unless Country B is Aruba.

I'm not scared of any Aruban, and I'm sure we could kick their ass in a war.

**Alfndrate**

Krellnus wrote:
labmouse42 wrote:
Madcat87 wrote:
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.

Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.

Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.

I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.

**Frazzled**

Yes but with KYC gravy, I'm going with a smile on my face.

**Alfndrate**

Frazzled wrote:
Yes but with KYC gravy, I'm going with a smile on my face.

Agreed

**InquisitorVaron**

Germany would be a good bet, not going as far down with the euro crisis. Being econmical methodical and with a low religion rate.

Combie that with Japan the UK Canada an America for that money! Oh and Norway and perhaps some of the other nordic countries. Perhaps australia and new zealand can join in. Why not everyone? Except the french, they can feth off.

Anywhere with a good human rights record in recent times is a candidate.

**Jihadin**

Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy

**CthuluIsSpy**

Alfndrate wrote:
Krellnus wrote:
labmouse42 wrote:
Madcat87 wrote:
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.

Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.

Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.

I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.

You know, I bet that a month later, Australia will unveil its new doomsday weapon - the Orbital Drop Bear Strike Satellite.

**kronk**

Jihadin wrote:
Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy

On that note, why do funeral homes offer a 25-year guaranteed coffin? Are you supposed to dig it up in 24 years and get your money back if it leaked or something?

Bury my ass in a pine box or cremate me and find a nice beach somewhere.

**Frazzled**

kronk wrote:
Jihadin wrote:
Before you go though from KFC gravy.....need to add a few more holes to the belt and look into reinforce coffins...you are not allowed though to get buried with a KFC bucket of chicken, box of KFC bisquit, and two cups of KFC gravy

On that note, why do funeral homes offer a 25-year guaranteed coffin? Are you supposed to dig it up in 24 years and get your money back if it leaked or something?

Bury my ass in a pine box or cremate me and find a nice beach somewhere.

I want to be molded into bullets and shot at my enemies. I have a list.

**Inquisitor Lord Bane**

Don't mind me, fethed up mah post. Edit later

**Frazzled**

Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:
Don't mind me, fethed up mah post. Edit later

This America HURR! uber dominance of processed foods is really getting glossed over here.

**Alfndrate**

CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Alfndrate wrote:
Krellnus wrote:
labmouse42 wrote:
Madcat87 wrote:
I'd say the only reason America can even claim to be the greastest is because you have the most guns, a willingness to use them and no one is stupid enough to challenge the point.
The US had a GDP nearly 7 times as much as the UK, and over 10 times as much as Australia.

Simply put, American has much more sway over the global economy than any other single country. If power = great, America is great.

Not necessarily.
Australia produces:
More Iron Ore than you
More Alumina than you
More Bauxite than you
More Bismuth than you
More Uranium than you (as well as having 31% of the world's supply)
More Zinc than you
I'd like to see any first world country maintain its infrastructure without access to those resources
GDP =/= power, natural resources = power.

I will grant Australia the title as greatest world power if, and ONLY if you can find a way to weaponize and rally all those fething deadly critters that live in your country. Until then, the US will continue to slowly kill the world with the 7th, 8th, and 9th deadliest things on the planet. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and KFC gravy.

You know, I bet that a month later, Australia will unveil its new doomsday weapon - the Orbital Drop Bear Strike Satellite.

Cuddliest weapon of massed fething destruction ever. The tweens of this country would demand for Bieber's head on a pike as sacrifice to our new Koala Overlords.