# America is the greatest country on Earth? Delusional **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542 "2019-03-26T02:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/41 "2019-03-26T10:05:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > How delusional are you Americans? You had to ask that question, lol. You have absolutely no idea how delusional we really are. The best thing about 'merikuh is our freedumz n gunz…n freedum ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/42 "2019-03-26T12:26:29Z")
Maybe we aren’t, but I don’t plan on leaving. We’re like your bipolar acquaintance. We’re fun to party with, we have all the great movies, but when we’re feeling down, we drag you down with us. Eventually we’ll pass out from too much alcohol and drugs, and you can leave us drooling in the alleyway. We may or may not remember what happened when we wake up, but rest assured we’ll be back to turn your life upside down again. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/43 "2019-03-26T12:36:03Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Igloos. You forgot the igloos. No, those are made in a big factory just west of Houston: > **[Amazon.com : IGLOO Heavy-Duty 5-gal. Drink Cooler : Sports & Outdoors](https://www.amazon.com/IGLOO-Heavy-Duty-5-gal-Drink-Cooler/dp/B00CBG74J6)** > > Cool your drinks during parties, events, or vacation trips with this heavy-duty five-gallon drink cooler by IGLOO. A wide mouth on this cooler makes it easy to clean after use, and the odor- and stain-resistant liner keeps this cooler like new. With... ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/44 "2019-03-26T12:48:38Z")
I like to be in America! O.K. by me in America! Everything free in America For a small fee in America! … Automobile in America. Chromium steel in America. Wirespoke wheel in America, Very big deal in America! … Immigrants go to America. Many hellos in America. Nobody knows in America, Puerto Rico’s in America! … I like the shores of America. Comfort is yours in America. Knobs on doors in America, Wall-to-wall floors in America! ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/45 "2019-03-26T13:05:57Z")
Trump and Lemon got it almost right. The correct phrasing is: > [@Sean Hannity](#): > > “The U.S. is the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the earth.” On a more serious note… While I recognize the flaws and evil that are present in our system, there’s still no where else I’d rather live. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/46 "2019-03-26T13:13:40Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think this belief that America is the greatest is part of the reason we have so many problems. We’re as brainwashed as Brezhnev era Soviets and as a result, we are incapable of addressing our problems. Remeber during the debate on healthcare reform, the GOP kept repeating that America already had the greatest health system on earth? Absolutely this. Designed to end a conversation before it starts. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/47 "2019-03-26T13:16:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > _cough_ Afghanistan…_cough_ Not to mention Vietnam. A lot of people can’t face that the US lost the Vietnam War. There is a lot of delusion. Tons of people think the US is the only country with free speech. Some of those same people are up in arms that SNL gets away with mocking Dear Leader. They point with pride to freedom of religion, yet at the same time oppose the freedom to practice Islam. They somehow equate freedom with the ability to purchase weapons of death, and the ghastly number of school shootings is a price they are willing to pay to maintain that “right”. Piss on all that. If you’re one to chant “U-S-A! U-S-A!”, you’re an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/48 "2019-03-26T13:20:34Z")
To me it’s a lie that is generationally self sustaining by telling and selling that lie to our children. Children really want to be #1 (it’s part of a childhood developmental stage, the experience with accepting others - letting go of self a bit but…defining one self as the best of the group) and want that for our nation and develop national pride by hearing this. Visiting other nations broke that lie with me. We are a overworked, underpaid nation that works for the comfort of the rich. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/49 "2019-03-26T13:25:36Z")
Are you shitting me?! Imagine that. The ruler of some country claiming that they are the greatest. Imagine that. Next thing you know some car manufacturers are going to start saying that their brand is best. Or some food manufacturer is going to claim that their product is best. Where will it lead? Can you imagine walking down the street and seeing some sign that says they have the best burgers in town? Or God forbid, the world’s best coffee? The horrors! And why hasn’t somebody told **Leaffan** to just fuck off? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/50 "2019-03-26T13:28:04Z")
And it’s a lie that we keep telling ourselves over and over. We crank out movies where a white American male (often Tom Hanks) wins WWII, or ends Jim Crow and the credits role. If you suggest that maybe the Soviets did the heavy lifting in WWII, or that racism is endemic in America and how it impacts white people is the least interesting aspect of the problem and people freak out. Americans believe we’re the greatest the way religious fanatics believe they’re the chosen ones. ETA: and what the fuck does the greatest nation on earth even mean? It’s stupid. I much prefer “Canada is a very lovely country with many nice people,” or “Denmark seems to value the well being of their people in a way that I find refreshing.” ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/51 "2019-03-26T13:33:47Z")
This op coming from Canada is not surprising. Canada is to America what Belgium is to the Netherlands: they sorta speak our language except in the part where they speak French, they are friendly and polite because if it ever came to a fight they’d disappear, and for some inexplicable reason they think they are a real country. Sure, technically they are, but technically I’m a race car driver because I once sat at the wheel of one going all of 70 mph. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/52 "2019-03-26T13:39:54Z")
See what I mean? They freak out and start denigrating other countries at the mere suggestion we’re not the greatest. My country can beat up your country (because we spend billions on implements of death rather than feed, educate and shelter our people). ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/53 "2019-03-26T13:45:51Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > See what I mean? They freak out and start denigrating other countries at the mere suggestion we’re not the greatest. My country can beat up your country (because we spend billions on implements of death rather than feed, educate and shelter our people). To be fair, the more people we kill, the less food, education, and shelter we need to provide. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/54 "2019-03-26T13:52:04Z")
America is the greatest nation in the world. But the catch, which a lot of people fail to appreciate, is that “great” is not the same thing as “good”. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/55 "2019-03-26T13:53:24Z")
The USA is a pretty great country. It isn’t for no reason that people from all over the world risk lots (and more) to come here. But the hyper flag waving “greatest ever” stuff is obvious overcompensation. It’s like a dare, or something. American 1 claims that America is the greatest ever, then if American 2 scoffs, American 2 doesn’t lurve America properly and American 1 can feel better about his life in a country that can be really shitty in various ways. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/56 "2019-03-26T13:55:40Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > This op coming from Canada is not surprising. Canada is to America what Belgium is to the Netherlands: they sorta speak our language except in the part where they speak French, they are friendly and polite because if it ever came to a fight they’d disappear… Uh, the only time NATO responded militarily to an attack on one of its members was after 9/11 in defense of the US. I remember working with Canadian troops in Kandahar. I’m guessing you missed that one? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/57 "2019-03-26T13:58:26Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > This op coming from Canada is not surprising. Canada is to America what Belgium is to the Netherlands: they sorta speak our language except in the part where they speak French, they are friendly and polite because if it ever came to a fight they’d disappear, and for some inexplicable reason they think they are a real country. Sure, technically they are, but technically I’m a race car driver because I once sat at the wheel of one going all of 70 mph. Perhaps you were unaware of the Canadian forces being part of the D-Day invasion? Canadians are great allies and friends, probably better than the US deserves. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/58 "2019-03-26T14:06:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Perhaps you were unaware of the Canadian forces being part of the D-Day invasion? Canadians are great allies and friends, probably better than the US deserves. Also: Korean War First Gulf War Yugoslav Wars Somali Civil War Afghanistan and operations against ISIS But other than that, what have they done? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/59 "2019-03-26T14:10:47Z")
They gave the world the Trailer Park Boys, Neil Young and Rush. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542/60 "2019-03-26T14:12:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > There is literally no metric available anywhere to substantiate this claim. > [@Leaffan](#): > > The US falls behind in every measurable quality of life metric. Ummm, we don’t do metric, so there! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-the-greatest-country-on-earth-delusional/831542.md?page=4)