# What countries are better than the U.S.A.? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334 "2019-04-10T14:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/41 "2019-04-11T01:59:38Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Also, nations with a lower incarceration rate than the US are better. Wouldn’t that be every nation outside North Korea? ---
**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:** [April 11, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/42 "2019-04-11T02:09:02Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Wouldn’t that be every nation outside North Korea? You said it, not me. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/43 "2019-04-11T02:12:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Using your own definition of “better”(elaborate if your wish), what countries are better to live in than the United States of America? Moving? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/44 "2019-04-11T02:23:39Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Well of course I am going to say Australia because I live here. > > We have a pretty good standard of living and great healthcare. > > Education is still fairly cheap. > > We have every form of climate, I can go skiing in winter or diving on Barrier Reef. > > We are pretty successful multi-cultural society. > > You can still have a go and make it. > > We don’t have a large proportion of our country living below the poverty line, there are some and that is still too many. > > Oh and we don’t have a large prison population! First of all, the whole country is a prison, if I read my history correctly. And second, you have killer bugs, snakes and jelyfish ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/45 "2019-04-11T02:37:50Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > First of all, the whole country is a prison, if I read my history correctly. > > And second, you have killer bugs, snakes and jelyfish And rabid wombats. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/46 "2019-04-11T02:52:32Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Well of course I am going to say Australia because I live here. > > We have a pretty good standard of living and great healthcare. > > Education is still fairly cheap. > > We have every form of climate, I can go skiing in winter or diving on Barrier Reef. > > We are pretty successful multi-cultural society. > > You can still have a go and make it. > > We don’t have a large proportion of our country living below the poverty line, there are some and that is still too many. > > Oh and we don’t have a large prison population! Most of that is true for Canada, too, which is similar except the climate is cooler. In exchange for that, though, we have no giant man-eating insects the size of Volkswagens. In the summer we might sometimes have a few ants on the back patio. That’s about it. Plus, we have hockey. Like Australia and everywhere else, we lack the revered American right to shoot each other, but we do get free health care, even though it’s kind of redundant due to lack of bullet holes to constantly have to patch up. But here’s the real kicker. Look up at the moon sometime. Then compare what you see with a picture of the moon as seen in the rest of the world. You’ll see that it appears to be upside down, but of course it’s not. The most appropriate aphorism here might be one borrowed from Bugs Bunny, usually said just before a dramatic climax: “It’s not upside down, doc! **YOU** are!” ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/47 "2019-04-11T03:01:59Z")
I want somebody else to acknowledge that skiing in winter isn’t something that apparently nobody else in the world but Australia has. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/48 "2019-04-11T03:42:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > First of all, the whole country is a prison, if I read my history correctly. > > And second, you have killer bugs, snakes and jelyfish Shhh it’s a trick to keep other people out. Yeah we were founded largely as a place to dump convicts but I rather that then being founded by puritans 😉 ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/49 "2019-04-11T03:46:57Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Shhh it’s a trick to keep other people out. > > Yeah we were founded largely as a place to dump convicts but I rather that then being founded by puritans 😉 This really is a sic and savage burn on the US. Well done, sir or madam. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/50 "2019-04-11T04:09:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > … we have no giant man-eating insects the size of Volkswagens. I take it you’ve never been in Winnipeg in the summertime. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/51 "2019-04-11T05:26:27Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > In the summer we might sometimes have a few ants on the back patio. That’s about it… You forgot the mosquitoes; otherwise known as “Ontario’s Provincial Bird.” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/52 "2019-04-11T06:06:58Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > We were fortunate enough to have a nice sensible Labor government in power at the time of the GFC, who immediately responded to it with stimulus This is true. Equally it’s true that the other mob created that war chest of cash and the low interest rates which accompanied them. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/53 "2019-04-11T06:18:02Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And second, you have killer bugs, snakes and jelyfish This is true, but they don’t kill you to eat you. They kill you if you encroach on their personal space. It’s simply a manifestation of the strong property rights we enjoy here. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/54 "2019-04-11T06:18:37Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Oh Australia, Canada, NZ and a whole bunch of other countries have strong rule of law and property protection. That is true. I haven’t thought about it for a while. Up until the USA cops started with all the civil asset forfeiture abuse I would have said the US was stronger because you could shoot someone for tresspassing. Right now they might be somewhat even. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/55 "2019-04-11T06:31:41Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Generally speaking the USA looks really good only if compared to the abysmal conditions of third world countries. Otherwise, it is only great for the wealthy. Which of course is true of any country. Except, a lot of countries are perfectly fine for anybody but the poorest and have a smaller poorest segment than the US. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/56 "2019-04-11T06:37:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’d add any country with UHC and sane gun ownership policies. Are there countries which have UHC but don’t have sane gun ownership policies and philosophies? Actual question, there may be some but I can’t think of any. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/57 "2019-04-11T07:52:35Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > This is true. > Equally it’s true that the other mob created that war chest of cash and the low interest rates which accompanied them. You may well be right. I’m also going to add in, in favour of Australia, that we may have spiders and snakes, but no grizzly bears. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/58 "2019-04-11T08:34:18Z")
I feel like I hit the jackpot being born Australian. BTW, Australia wasn’t founded or colonised as a dumping ground for criminals, it was a land/resources grab by the British Empire and the convicts were the free forced labour because the whole thing with enslaving Africans was not as good an idea as it initially seemed. The convicts were often teenagers from poor families convicted of shoplifting, though there were some real criminals too. They were basically forced colonists. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/59 "2019-04-11T09:31:46Z")
My country, The Netherlands, isn’t as good as it used to be, but still pretty good. High living standards, a (still fairly) open-minded attitude and (sometimes too) straight answers to your questions. Didn’t appreciate them until I left. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334/60 "2019-04-11T09:36:38Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > **As a total package, nothing beats the USA** , taking into account country security, education, business, wealth. On individual issues though, many other countries come out ahead. So if you are more concerned about safety, or health, or lifestyle on a modest wage, you would probably be best off elsewhere. If you are wealthy the USA is the best place to be because of the strong rule of law and property protection. Bolding mine… except, there isn’t a single report or survey which supports your assertion. Care to share one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-are-better-than-the-u-s-a/832334.md?page=4)