# What nation do you consider the greatest on earth **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623 "2009-11-15T02:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/61 "2009-11-17T08:55:14Z")
**Xotan** You’ll probably be aware that I’m a dedicated Anglophile, nothing and no-one will **ever** convince me that England and Britain are not the finest nations on earth. While we were inventing, among other things, and in no particular order The Locomotive The Postage stamp The Hovercraft Various sports, football, rugby, cricket etc. etc. The Computer Television …and so on and so forth. Our friends across the pond were inventing The Machine Gun The Colt revolver The Submarine The Iron Clad Battleship The Automobile The Airplane Napalm? Agent Orange …and so on and so forth. Don’t for one minute get me wrong, I like America and Americans but it appears to me that while the British were doing their best to better the world, the Americans were also doing their best to fuck it up. Before anyone jumps in with a USA v GB tirade, I’m not interested in the slightest. I will say this though, we managed to abolish slavery without having to have a civil war about it, the USA didn’t ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/62 "2009-11-17T09:41:53Z")
**Chowder** , don’t tell me that you just cherry-picked your examples (plus some of them aren’t exactly accurate). There must of been some mistake. Here is a better list of U.S. inventions that bettered the world (warning, extremely long): > **[Timeline of United States inventions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_inventions)** > > The following articles cover the timeline of United States inventions: After you read that, check this out to it all in perspective: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q65KZIqay4E/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGD4gQyh_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLCOW83bNWx8mEgFkLf-Aiwk3MxFvA "God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E) I am of almost all British descent BTW which may be an American way of looking at things but it is important to me so it is all in good fun. ---
**Author:** ![Xotan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/278dde/32.png) [@Xotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xotan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/63 "2009-11-17T10:07:19Z")
[quote=“chowder, post:61, topic:517623”] **Xotan** You’ll probably be aware that I’m a dedicated Anglophile, nothing and no-one will **ever** convince me that England and Britain are not the finest nations on earth. We are not at odds over the achievements of the UK. My point was that the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish, as well as the English are separate nations forming a single state. This fact is underlined by the establishment of a Scottish National Assembly in Edinburgh, a Welsh Assembly in Cardiff and the reconstitution of a ‘parliament’ in Stormont/Belfast, thereby recognising their nationhoods. There are now certain (muted) calls for an English (as distinct from British) parliament. As to which is the finest/greatest nation, it is the kind of absolutist question that no one will ever agree on. Most (all?) nations have their good and their bad points, and all expressions of approval or disapproval tend to be quite subjective, one’s point of view being determined from one’s experience and indoctrination - ok, call it schooling. So for every expression of approval and support on the one hand, there is someone viewing the same nation from another standpoint, and with a different perspective and a different opinion. Americans will naturally tend to consider their country the greatest. Within the US, Texas seems to consider itself the greatest…and so on. But what does all of this mean? In the overall, probably not a lot - unless one goes too far and follows the dangerous mirage of the Herrenvolk. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/64 "2009-11-17T11:57:04Z")
I don’t really see the point of identifying the greatest nation. I’m an American and it has some good points, but not nearly as many as we seem to think (and more than some of my European friends will admit). Every place I’ve been has had great parts and crappy parts. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/65 "2009-11-17T15:24:52Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong, Didn’t we also invent _Viagra_ ? An absolute boon to old farts like moi ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/66 "2009-11-17T16:07:26Z")
> [@Xotan](#): > > We are not at odds over the achievements of the UK. My point was that the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish, as well as the English are separate nations forming a single state. This fact is underlined by the establishment of a Scottish National Assembly in Edinburgh, a Welsh Assembly in Cardiff and the reconstitution of a ‘parliament’ in Stormont/Belfast, thereby recognising their nationhoods. There are now certain (muted) calls for an English (as distinct from British) parliament. In that sense, the United Kingdom is actually less of a group of “nations” than the US. Whereas in the US, the states are guaranteed certain inherent powers which the federal government can never take away\* and are considered sovereign entitiesin a limited sense, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the Stormont are guaranteed nothing. All power _devolves_ from Westminster and (the “UK”) Parliament can dissolve the regional bodies whenever it likes, at least in theory. > [@](#): > > While we were inventing, among other things, and in no particular order > > The Locomotive > The Postage stamp > The Hovercraft > Various sports, football, rugby, cricket etc. etc. > The Computer > Television > > …and so on and so forth. > > Our friends across the pond were inventing > > The Machine Gun > The Colt revolver > The Submarine > The Iron Clad Battleship > The Automobile > The Airplane > Napalm? > Agent Orange > > …and so on and so forth. Oh, bollocks. You also invented the gunboat, the destroyer, aerial bombing… And [the Germans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Benz) invented the automobile. \*No arguments about states’ rights nonsense in this thread, please. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/67 "2009-11-17T16:09:59Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, Didn’t we also invent _Viagra_ ? > > An absolute boon to old farts like moi Sildenafil, the active ingredient, was first synthesized at Pfizer’s Sandwich lab, so yes. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/68 "2009-11-17T16:40:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Oh, bollocks. You also invented the gunboat, the destroyer, aerial bombing… > > And [the Germans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Benz) invented the automobile. I stand corrected about the automobile. We had to invent the gunboat to keep the natives in their rightful place. 😉 Same with the destroyer, not sure about the aerial bombing though, thought that was those chappies in WW 1 that chucked hand grenades out of their planes which later lead to those dinky little hand held bombs that both/all sides used ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/69 "2009-11-17T16:45:34Z")
Right - and you think inventing weapons to ensure you can stay on top of conquered peoples and exploit their resources is somehow more honorable than inventing weapons so you can defend yourself (and exploit other peoples’ resources)? The first bomb dropped from a plane was Italian, but the first purpose-built bomber aircraft was the Handley Page Mk. O (I think). ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/70 "2009-11-17T18:23:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Right - and you think inventing weapons to ensure you can stay on top of conquered peoples and exploit their resources is somehow more honorable than inventing weapons so you can defend yourself (and exploit other peoples’ resources)? If you’re having a dig at me and the British I’d just like to mention the Native Americans. Seems to me that whitey did a pretty good job of exploiting them ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/71 "2009-11-18T01:45:50Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > If you’re having a dig at me and the British I’d just like to mention the Native Americans. > > Seems to me that whitey did a pretty good job of exploiting them Tell that to the Irish. And the Zulu. And the Indians. And most of the colonies in Africa. :rolleyes: The sun never sets on the [British Empire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire), eh? ---
**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:** [November 18, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/72 "2009-11-18T04:27:59Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > If you’re having a dig at me and the British I’d just like to mention the Native Americans. > > Seems to me that whitey did a pretty good job of exploiting them I’m not having a dig - I’m British (though by descent, I’m one of those oppressed colonials). I’m just pointing out that US militarism (and US weapons development) is no worse than British militarism and the associated development of weapons in other years past. The same nation that you complained about because it invented the revolver, machine, gun, submarine, ironclad, etc. also gave the world the hydroelectric generator, the radio (sort of), refrigeration, vulcanized rubber, the passenger elevator/lift, the water treatment facility, synthetic insulin and home-delivered pizza. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/73 "2009-11-18T08:48:40Z")
**RNATB** America may have given home delivered pizza, we have home delivered curry which beats the shit out of any pizza you care to name. Incidentally, the US also gave us McDs ☹ and KFC ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/74 "2009-11-18T11:51:30Z")
How many kangaroos have you bludgers got? Huh? (I was going to say wombats but I thought of a certain mod). ---
**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:** [November 18, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/75 "2009-11-18T14:48:15Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > America may have given home delivered pizza, we have home delivered curry which beats the shit out of any pizza you care to name. Well, yes, but one led to the other. Also, pizza doesn’t give me the runs. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/76 "2009-11-18T15:20:05Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > How many kangaroos have you bludgers got? Huh? > > (I was going to say wombats but I thought of a certain mod). But she’s invisible, so nobody knows to count her. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/77 "2009-11-18T15:34:45Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Incidentally, the US also gave us McDs ☹ and KFC ☹ If Maccy D’s is so terrible, why is it so successful? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/78 "2009-11-18T16:29:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, yes, but one led to the other. Also, pizza doesn’t give me the runs. :mad: Ah well you prolly haven’t gargled down several pints of falling down water before your pizza. As we all know, before having a ruby, one has to imbibe a certain quantity of booze in order to obtain maximum enjoyment from said ruby. The trots usually follows but this is counted as an occupational hazard ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/79 "2009-11-18T17:24:44Z")
Duh, New Zealand, clearly. Pft. Think about it for a minute. Tropical beaches, snowy ski runs, unspoiled natural goodness and resources in abundance, a healthy economy, mostly good courts, social freedoms, pretty good living standard, not militaristic or weapons focused, and I’ve never met a Kiwi I didn’t like. Not to mention should the other boneheaded nations of the world finally lose it and let fly with the weapons of mass destruction, I have read, the only place with a real fighting chance, (mostly because of prevailing winds and weather patterns), of surviving is New Zealand! They are sort of understated and low profile in a way that seems both wise and appealing, to me Sort of like the quiet, good looking, soft spoken boy at the party! {Great Britain? It is to laugh, they have unreliable cobblers, kill each other at soccer matches, throw garbage at musicians and talk all snooty like, when they’re having they’re tea. Don’t get me started on warm beer and bad food. Great Britian, good one!} ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623/80 "2009-11-18T17:31:45Z")
And Hobbits, you forgot the Hobbits [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nation-do-you-consider-the-greatest-on-earth/517623.md?page=5)