# Why Is The USA Exceptional Among First World Countries? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007 "2010-08-21T22:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/41 "2010-08-23T00:43:32Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > > [@adhay](#): > > > > I’ll give you my irony meter. I’m not saying you need it but, really. > > That’s not actually a response to what he said, you know. It’s the best I can do and I’ll send you one too. (iambic pentameter) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/42 "2010-08-23T02:07:58Z")
Too much irony in the blood and you will rust out before your time. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/43 "2010-08-23T02:30:39Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > utopian libertarianism. Now there an oxymoron, if I’ve ever heard one. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/44 "2010-08-23T02:31:30Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Too much irony in the blood and you will rust out before your time. Precisely. Let me send _you_ one. ETA it’s prophylactic. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/45 "2010-08-23T03:06:38Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Imho, it’s because that the US is just about the only country in the world where individual effort is rewarded, in the absence of social, political, religious or parental control. I call bull shit on this one. > [@adhay](#): > > > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > > What makes you think that we ARE the “envy of the world”? The whole reason other countries have that “socialist bullshit” is because people want it, you know. I think I’ve heard more people express horror than admiration about how life in America is like - people actually go bankrupt over healthcare here, after all. > > Get a job. I don’t recommend PR. 🙂 (smiley for the metaphorically challenged) I love the USA but I wouldn’t want to live there unless I was independantly wealthy. Please note I am not a USA basher, I just like a bit more socialism with my capitalism. 🙂 > [@adhay](#): > > Simply put, Canada and Australia depended heavily on British imports. We, OTOH, were plopped down in a great location with a powerful beachhead and allied profiteers in Parliament. CITE please, The US relied on britian importing your goods as much as Australia. Don’t make blanket statements without facts mate. The MAIN difference between the USA and Australia was that were formed on the back on convicts and not by puritans. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/46 "2010-08-23T03:37:54Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > Imho, it’s because that the US is just about the only country in the world where individual effort is rewarded, in the absence of social, political, religious or parental control. > > I call bull shit on this one. > > I love the USA but I wouldn’t want to live there unless I was independantly wealthy. Please note I am not a USA basher, I just like a bit more socialism with my capitalism. 🙂 That’s my more to my taste but YMMV. Australia was an afterthought. Like Liberia. What you gonna do with dem convicts of Capital and get rid of the collateral evidence? Ship 'em abroad. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/47 "2010-08-23T03:49:58Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > That’s my more to my taste but YMMV. > > Australia was an afterthought. Like Liberia. What you gonna do with dem convicts of Capital and get rid of the collateral evidence? Ship 'em abroad. Thank Dog that we got the convicts and not the born agains! ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/48 "2010-08-23T04:02:27Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > > [@adhay](#): > > > > That’s my more to my taste but YMMV. > > > > Australia was an afterthought. Like Liberia. What you gonna do with dem convicts of Capital and get rid of the collateral evidence? Ship 'em abroad. > > Thank Dog that we got the convicts and not the born agains! Hey! We’re having a civil conversation here and you bring that stuff up. Gotta point? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/49 "2010-08-23T16:20:46Z")
The reason that America is exceptional compared to other Western nations is that its much larger in useable land (Canada I believe is bigger but much of it is under perma frost). Other then that its standard of living and quality of life are poorer for the average person then those living in other Western nations. I speak as a regular and much travelled visitor to the U.S., I am pro America and pro American but the envy of the Western world you most certainly are not. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/50 "2010-08-23T16:28:15Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > The reason that America is exceptional compared to other Western nations is that its much larger in useable land (Canada I believe is bigger but much of it is under perma frost). > > Other then that its standard of living and quality of life are poorer for the average person then those living in other Western nations. > > I speak as a regular and much travelled visitor to the U.S., I am pro America and pro American but the envy of the Western world you most certainly are not. You need some schooling on the meaning of _quality of life._ America defines that meaning, because we’ve got the most money and the most power. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/51 "2010-08-23T17:26:25Z")
IMHO, what’s exceptional about America is its glorification of selfishness and greed. There’s just no social stigma against succeeding at the expense of others. I can’t think of any other explanation for its foreign policies or the poverty/inequality. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/52 "2010-08-26T15:30:10Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > > [@Lust4Life](#): > > > > The reason that America is exceptional compared to other Western nations is that its much larger in useable land (Canada I believe is bigger but much of it is under perma frost). > > > > Other then that its standard of living and quality of life are poorer for the average person then those living in other Western nations. > > > > I speak as a regular and much travelled visitor to the U.S., I am pro America and pro American but the envy of the Western world you most certainly are not. > > You need some schooling on the meaning of _quality of life._ America defines that meaning, because we’ve got the most money and the most power. I thought China had most of your money, as to quality of life your definition most likely differs to those of the inhabitants of the many slums and ghettos in American cities. I have seen your “quality of life” in many places at first hand. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/53 "2010-08-26T16:21:40Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I thought China had most of your money, as to quality of life your definition most likely differs to those of the inhabitants of the many slums and ghettos in American cities. Most of our money? No, I don’t think so, unless you have a cite to the contrary. Most US debt is held by US citizens, if that is what you meant. And are you comparing US slums and ghettos to the slums and ghettos in Europe, or apples and oranges? As to the OP, the US is exceptional because we have the largest economy in the world, the greatest manufacturing output, we win the most Nobel prizes, our social culture is the most influential in the world, the most powerful military, etc, etc. We are exceptional because we are No. 1 in so many areas that are important. Not all, but more than any other single country. I know., I know - “but Lower Slobbovia outproduces the US in per capita production of nutmeg graters!” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/54 "2010-08-26T16:52:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Lust4Life](#): > > > > I thought China had most of your money, as to quality of life your definition most likely differs to those of the inhabitants of the many slums and ghettos in American cities. > > Most of our money? No, I don’t think so, unless you have a cite to the contrary. Most US debt is held by US citizens, if that is what you meant. > > And are you comparing US slums and ghettos to the slums and ghettos in Europe, or apples and oranges? > > As to the OP, the US is exceptional because we have the largest economy in the world, the greatest manufacturing output, we win the most Nobel prizes, our social culture is the most influential in the world, the most powerful military, etc, etc. > > We are exceptional because we are No. 1 in so many areas that are important. Not all, but more than any other single country. > > I know., I know - “but Lower Slobbovia outproduces the US in per capita production of nutmeg graters!” > > Regards, > Shodan Actually the bit about China having most of your money was tongue in cheek. America IS exceptional in many ways, but the standard of living for most ordinary Americans(not the slum dwellers) is below that of other Western countries. Look at health care and paid holidays just for a start. Personally I would not like my employer to control my health care ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/55 "2010-08-26T17:01:48Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > > [@Smeghead](#): > > > > That’s not actually a response to what he said, you know. > > It’s the best I can do and I’ll send you one too. (iambic pentameter) Not iambic, and not pentameter. More like anapestic dimeter. Iambic pentameter sounds more like this (recapping part of the thread\* in blank verse). I may have lost some of the nuances. Adh.: America is great. Oh yeah, we rock. Dep.: And I, for one, do welcome all our new / American overlords Adh.: You have no choice. Can.: Materials are plentiful and cheap. Qpw.: O oligarchs, too few are much too rich. Foo.: Utopic libertarians we are. Adh.: In technic forest of distraction lost… RP: Your hist’ry, Sir, has fatal flaws galore. … Sm.: You know that’s no response to what he said. Adh.: It was my best response – here’s one for you. \*I got bored. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/56 "2010-08-26T17:10:35Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > America IS exceptional in many ways, but the standard of living for most ordinary Americans(not the slum dwellers) is below that of other Western countries. It depends on what [you are looking at](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living_in_the_United_States). > [@](#): > > The standard of living in the United States is one of the top 20 in the world by the standards economists use as measures of standards of living. Per capita income is high but also less evenly distributed than in most other developed countries; as a result, the United States fares particularly well in measures of average material well being that do not place weight on equality aspects. > > On comprehensive measures such as the UN Human Development Index the United States is always in the top twenty, currently ranking 15th. On the Human Poverty Index the United States ranked 16th, one rank below the United Kingdom and one rank above Ireland.[4] On the Economist’s quality-of-life index the United States ranked 13th, in between Finland and Canada, scoring 7.6 out of a possible 10. The highest given score of 8.3 was applied to Ireland. This particular index takes into account a variety of socio-economic variables including GDP per capita, life expectancy, political stability, family life, community life, gender equality, and job security.[5] > > The homeownership rate is relatively high compared to other post-industrial nations. In 2005, 69% of Americans resided in their own homes, roughly the same percentage as in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Israel and Canada.[6][7][8] Residents of the United States also enjoy a high access to consumer goods. Americans enjoy more radios per capita than any other nation [9] and more televisions and personal computers per capita than any other large nation.[10][11] Health care is certainly important, but so is [employment.](http://www.tradingeconomics.com/World-Economy/Unemployment-Rates.aspx) But even the things that Europeans and liberals would say were to the detriment of the US can be seen as part of our exceptionalism - we value individual effort more than equality of income, for instance. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/57 "2010-08-26T17:36:58Z")
I, a US resident, envy the standard of living of regular folks living in Europe. Would be really cool not to lose health insurance along with a job, sane hours sound great. Life is good when you are rich in the First World and the US, but it’s much better for regular folks over there. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/58 "2010-08-26T18:05:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Lust4Life](#): > > > > I thought China had most of your money, as to quality of life your definition most likely differs to those of the inhabitants of the many slums and ghettos in American cities. > > Most of our money? No, I don’t think so, unless you have a cite to the contrary. Most US debt is held by US citizens, if that is what you meant. If by US citizens you mean Wall Street CEOs and their big investors, you may be right. But that’s not what you meant say, is it. > [@](#): > > And are you comparing US slums and ghettos to the slums and ghettos in Europe, or apples and oranges? And when was the last time (since WWII) that Europe turned a fashionable manufacturing epicenter like Detroit into what it today? No doubt you would say, Hey, that’s the free market. > [@](#): > > As to the OP, the US is exceptional because we have the largest economy in the world, the greatest manufacturing output, we win the most Nobel prizes, our social culture is the most influential in the world, the most powerful military, etc, etc. There is no question that the natural product of national corruption is excess. And, it’s not all good. At least to those a little down the food chain. > [@](#): > > We are exceptional because we are No. 1 in so many areas that are important. Not all, but more than any other single country. Al Capone is our 20th century icon. He specialized in money and murder. We could only get him on tax evasion. Why is that funny to me? I should be outraged. I am that unearned income should be lightly taxed and not taxed when passed on to aristocrat’s spawn. Stuck in Lodi, again. > [@](#): > > I know., I know - “but Lower Slobbovia outproduces the US in per capita production of nutmeg graters!” > > Regards, > Shodan Sounds to me that you’re hanging in there on the food chain somewhere above all previous record high water marks. Look back on our so-called depressions. Fraudulent overextension and the debt called in produced, in addition to many smaller calamities thru the centuries, global tsunamis that caused two world wars and brought on the MI Complex. The worst (final) tsunami will arrive with the end of cheap oil. SOON, geologically speaking. Anyone with a greenhouse and neighborly neighbors will do well. If I may offer a suggestion, Sir, change your views. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/59 "2010-08-26T18:21:14Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > [ > > \*I got bored. Me, too. For the nonce, you may consider me your Muse. Please carry on. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/60 "2010-08-26T18:52:01Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > IMHO, what’s exceptional about America is its glorification of selfishness and greed. There’s just no social stigma against succeeding at the expense of others. I can’t think of any other explanation for its foreign policies or the poverty/inequality. I can offer no explanation other than, I am my father’s son. Thanks, Paul Simon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007.md?page=4)