# So what is the greatest nation in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133 "2011-10-10T01:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/41 "2011-10-11T02:04:52Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > The US is the greatest nation in the world. Is America perfect? No. Can we do better? Yes. That said, there’s no other country I’d rather live, and there’s a reason people are risking their lives to get over here. > > Ain’t nobody risking their life to get into, oh, Russia or China for a better life. People are risking their lives to get into South Korea, Italy, Thailand, and Kenya too. All this means is that there are a lot of places with worse off neighbours. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/42 "2011-10-11T02:14:11Z")
> [@medicated](#): > > People are risking their lives to get into South Korea, Italy, Thailand, and Kenya too. All this means is that there are a lot of places with worse off neighbours. Do you think that if they had a choice, the people risking their life to get into Italy or Kenya would rather get into the USA, all other things being equal? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/43 "2011-10-11T02:17:02Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > It has been instrumental in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the Earth both by establishing religious freedom at home and sending missionaries all across the Earth Nah, too easy. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/44 "2011-10-11T02:19:36Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > The US is the greatest nation in the world. Is America perfect? No. Can we do better? Yes. That said, there’s no other country I’d rather live, and there’s a reason people are risking their lives to get over here. > > Ain’t nobody risking their life to get into, oh, Russia or China for a better life. You put it better than I could. I’d much rather live in a country where people try to sneak in, that sneak out. Just like my great-grandfather. He didn’t fancy being cannon fodder in Bismarck’s Germany, so he ran for it, stowed away on a ship(got caught but worked passage) and ended up a farmer here in Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/45 "2011-10-11T02:29:44Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > The US is not even in my top 25. I’d say that to be a contender for greatest nation, free healthcare must be provided to everyone, there must be a sane drug policy, and there must be a sane prison policy. And universal marriage rights regardless of sex. And no death penalty. There should also be a fairer distribution of wealth between the upper and lower classes. CEOs in the US are unfairly compensated, and the problem up top is getting worse with every passing decade. I wouldn’t put the US that far down, but yes, not on the top of my list either. > [@](#): > > After the Norwegian massacre several months back, I discovered I really like Norway’s penal system. That whole little wing of NorwaySwedenFinland seems like a pretty great place to be (I’d probably go with Norway or Sweden, if I spoke the language). It’s effing cold there though, so I would not live there, much as I like those countries (I have been to Swe, never to Norway). > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Yeah, that’s pretty tempting, although I’d have trouble with Norway’s insane beer taxes. Denmark might get my first vote. All your criteria look good to me. It pains to me say this (after all my daughter carries a Danish passport), DK looks better from the outside. > [@medicated](#): > > People are risking their lives to get into South Korea, Italy, Thailand, and Kenya too. All this means is that there are a lot of places with worse off neighbors. Spain too. Off the top of my head I’d vote for New Zealand. My husband will probably agree too (a Dane that has been to NZ several times). Canada will get my second vote. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/46 "2011-10-11T02:42:05Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > I wouldn’t put the US that far down, but yes, not on the top of my list either.It’s effing cold there though, so I would not live there, much as I like those countries (I have been to Swe, never to Norway) ## Well, in fairness, the poster who you are replying to’s expert opinion was apparently formed after she watched 5 minutes of teevee after the mass shooting outside of Oslo, so it’s just possible that her conclusion that Norway is the world’s Perfect Utopia may be lacking a bit on substance. Rachel, when was the last time you were able to escape the Hell On Earth that is America and treat yourself to a lovely Scandinavian sabbatical? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/47 "2011-10-11T04:59:06Z")
United States of America. Not perfect but we keep trying to make progress. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/48 "2011-10-11T09:18:27Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > 1. Russia has incredible military power due to its history and population. Unlike the US, it never uses its influence in a military fashion. Chechnya? Georgia? South Ossetia? My vote is for Canada, BTW ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/49 "2011-10-11T10:19:48Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > (I’d probably go with Norway or Sweden, if I spoke the language). You don’t need to know the language. Just come over and learn it whilst you’re here. (Brit that moved to Stockholm in 1999, started Swedish classes in 2000 and is in no way looking to move elsewhere). ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/50 "2011-10-11T10:20:49Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Modern European \*governments \*exist since WW2. European \*nations \*are relatively older. Not the same thing. France today is the same country as France of the Bourbons, despite the dozen or two changes in regime style. And some governments were’t toppled. Funnily enough, WW2 didn’t see the Germans taking over all of Europe. Edit: But even then, it was just a joke anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/51 "2011-10-11T11:14:23Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Spain too. Not so much right now, apparently even the pateras have gotten the memo that the economy is “fucked up although of course it’s not a recession”. It’s never a recession… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/52 "2011-10-11T12:23:24Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Not so much right now, apparently even the pateras have gotten the memo that the economy is “fucked up although of course it’s not a recession”. It’s never a recession… Maybe it’s lupus? By the way, I’ve seen a fair bit of Russia Today and it’s awful. Maybe not FoxNews/CNN awful but the BBC and Al Jazeera are miles ahead in terms of English language world news quality (although if the BBC keep cutting its budget that won’t be true for long). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/53 "2011-10-11T14:03:32Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Not to mention their biggest export is strippers, vodka and crappy tanks for third world armies. Two out of three ain’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![studmuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@studmuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/studmuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/54 "2011-10-11T14:11:31Z")
The Scandic countries are too cold and the people are repressed, anal and their holier-that-thou Liberalism is practically a Religion. Japan is OK, they know how to treat their elderly citizens. The UK is going down the crapper. I’d say America is No.1. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/55 "2011-10-11T16:00:19Z")
> [@studmuffin](#): > > The Scandic countries are too cold and the people are repressed, anal and their holier-that-thou Liberalism is practically a Religion. > > Japan is OK, they know how to treat their elderly citizens. > > The UK is going down the crapper. > I’d say America is No.1. Have you ever been to Scandinavia? You sound like somebody who hasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/56 "2011-10-11T16:44:35Z")
No idea, but I’m not leaving the US. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/57 "2011-10-11T16:44:42Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Have you ever been to Scandinavia? You sound like somebody who hasn’t. The too cold part would be enough for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/58 "2011-10-11T16:56:33Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > The United States of America. > > It is the country with the possible exception of Britain with the longest period of stable and continuous government. > It is one of the freest countries in the world. > It is one of the militarily and economically strongest countries in the world. > It has protected human freedom across the globe Agreed. > [@](#): > > It has been instrumental in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the Earth both by establishing religious freedom at home and sending missionaries all across the Earth That’s a black mark against it, not a positive. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/59 "2011-10-11T17:02:09Z")
I’m a little curious about how much credit (or blame) the United States is entitled to for “spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the Earth”. Christianity was already pretty much established back in 1776. If you want to credit a nation for spreading it all over the world I’d put Portugal, Spain, England, and France all ahead of America. Freedom of religion is more of a secularizing influence than a proselytizing one. And when did the United States ever send out missionaries? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/60 "2011-10-11T17:23:15Z")
The thought of learning a new language is way too intimidating! If I were a desirable immigrant, I’d definitely move to Canada. But that doesn’t mean I necessarily think it’s best. Just better than here, and easily accessible without being an entire continent away from everything I know 🙂 > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think the OP’s requirement that the country be influential is a terrible one. On the contrary, I think it’s very likely that the more influential you are, the lower I’m gonna rank you in the “best country” competition. Agreed. Inside my chest beats the beige heart of neutrality. Inside these veins courses the mauve blood of political disinterest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133.md?page=4)