# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/141 "2011-10-15T17:23:02Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > i will also say russia is the greatest nation in the world because of its size, amount of natural resources both tapped and untapped, its great diversity, it’s level of industrial, cultural and intellectual development (somehat late compared with western europe and the US but fast nevertheless.) > > lastly, it has the political will to use nukes. How do you know Russia has the political will to use nukes when it hasn’t used them? Logically that point goes to the USA, which 1. Actually used nuclear weapons, and 2. Is one of only two countries I can think of who had an open, honest policy of first strike (the other being France.) ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/142 "2011-10-15T19:46:49Z")
The British are obviously the greatest country in the world. We’ve spawned 4 countries, controlled a sub-continent for 200 years, invented countless things which everyone uses and were the first industrialized country and first country to ban the slave trade. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/143 "2011-10-16T03:29:25Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > The British are obviously the greatest country in the world. We’ve spawned 4 countries, controlled a sub-continent for 200 years, invented countless things which everyone uses and were the first industrialized country and first country to ban the slave trade. What have you done for us lately? 🙂 ---
**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 16, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/144 "2011-10-16T04:04:56Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What have you done for us lately? 🙂 Made the four countries they spawned proud in the Falklands. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/145 "2011-10-16T11:35:21Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What have you done for us lately? 🙂 Harry Potter, American Idol, and Coldplay. And you’re welcome to them! ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/146 "2011-10-16T14:27:00Z")
The British also invented the first programmable computer, invented television and the jet engine. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/147 "2011-10-16T20:27:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What have you done for us lately? 🙂 [Gave over the Constitution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriation). ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133/148 "2011-10-17T03:22:01Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > [Gave over the Constitution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriation). Lol. Touché. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/599133.md?page=7)