Is America the greatest country on Earth, and why?

[johnpost]

TLDR

i have heard, in talk shows or news summaries, that polling places have done surveys on happiness. more people in the more nanny states rate themselves as happier.

don't have details or cites.

[bldysabba]

Originally Posted by Candyman74

Depends. How many do we have to list to convince you Europe deserves substantial credit? And not just for computing, but also for science and technology as a whole? Just to name a few inventions of many, many: steam locomotives, internal combustion engine, cathode-ray tubes, world-wide-web, thermometer, alternating current, the bikini(!), digital calculator, surface torpedo, espresso machine, electric battery, the first microprocessor, asphalt, ejector seat.

These are not insignificant things. These are massive, important things. And there are so many of them. That's just a teeny little snapshot.

I won't list scientific theories, because that list is just ludicrous!

I'm not saying for a second that the US isn't both prolific and important in this area; but that Europe cannot be dismissed. It, also, is very important.

Edit: What RNATB said in the post immediately after yours. I missed that and responded needlessly :/

[Crane]

Candyman,

What country in Europe made the first microprocessor?

IBM had a board level hybrid on the Apollo program in the 60's. GI made the single chip serial differential processor in the late 60's and Lee Boysel made the first Microprocessor at 4 Phase Systems in 1971. Where does Europe come in?

And, what's the criteria for the greatest nation? Education, literacy, technology, production, self sufficiency, average standard of living? How do you keep score.

[Candyman74]

Originally Posted by Crane

Candyman,

What country in Europe made the first microprocessor?

IBM had a board level hybrid on the Apollo program in the 60's. GI made the single chip serial differential processor in the late 60's and Lee Boysel made the first Microprocessor at 4 Phase Systems in 1971. Where does Europe come in?

Yeah, not sure where I was pulling that one from. I think I had it in my head that the Intel 4004 was invented by an Italian. Or something silly like that.

But I humbly withdraw it; and submit the humble pencil and radio communication in its place!

And, what's the criteria for the greatest nation? Education, literacy, technology, production, self sufficiency, average standard of living? How do you keep score.

Exactly. That's what we keep saying.

[Candyman74]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

Yeah, but it's not a country, as he said. The discussion isn't whether the US is better than everyone else combined.

It's not a country, no, but it's a comparision he made, and to which I responded. He brought up the "Europe doesn't deserve equal, or almost equal credit" angle; I just happened to reply to it. But you're correct in that this side-branch of the conversation doesn't directly address the OP.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Well, carry on then.

[al27052]

Originally Posted by Crane

Candyman,

What country in Europe made the first microprocessor?

IBM had a board level hybrid on the Apollo program in the 60's. GI made the single chip serial differential processor in the late 60's and Lee Boysel made the first Microprocessor at 4 Phase Systems in 1971. Where does Europe come in?

I believe that Europeans made Linux.

And that is the sum total of all they will ever contribute to IT, is my guess.

Not that this has all that much to do with being the greatest country, anymore than winning the Superbowl makes the Saints the greatest athletes in the world, across all sports.

[bldysabba]

Originally Posted by Candyman74

It's not a country, no, but it's a comparision he made, and to which I responded. He brought up the "Europe doesn't deserve equal, or almost equal credit" angle; I just happened to reply to it.

Presuming the 'he' you're talking about here is, in fact, me, I'll have to take exception to your statement, I was responding to a post by Lobot which brought up the Europe angle.

[Lobot]

You said that nothing "substantial" has been contributed to computing from outside the U.S. I was disputing that.

[bldysabba]

Originally Posted by Lobot

You said that nothing "substantial" has been contributed to computing from outside the U.S. I was disputing that.

And, since I was responding to the OP, I was taking for granted the extension [by any country] outside the U.S.

[truthSeeker2]

Not disputing American greatness, but just pointing out that a substantial percentage of people working for almost all major US computers companies are Indian. Having worked with Microsoft for example, I could guess that about one in three software developer was an Indian. Here's an article:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...basic-sciences

[Mijin]

Originally Posted by al27052

I believe that Europeans made Linux.

And that is the sum total of all they will ever contribute to IT, is my guess.

You're joking, right?