# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/101 "2010-08-31T05:36:39Z")
Well Adhay, you had it right. It’s all location, location, location. We control the most temperate swath of North America, spanning from ocean to ocean. That land is incredibly rich, teeming with mineral resources and vast tracts of fertile land. We have been protected not only by the seas, but through long borders with only two other countries, both of which have not posed great threats to our security. The wealth of the nation not owned by any king that we recognized, sponsored the altruism that permitted people freedom, to exploit the bounty, and innovate. We were free from the history of internecene conflict that plagued the old world, our resources funneled into the growth of industry. And through this time, all those who cared more for freedom than nationalism made their way across the world, to become us. Only under those circumstances could a single nation progress humankind to the acme of our existence, McDonalds. And all the other stuff we did first, and all the times we kicked every other country’s asses. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/102 "2010-08-31T05:52:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well Adhay, you had it right. It’s all location, location, location. We control the most temperate swath of North America, spanning from ocean to ocean. That land is incredibly rich, teeming with mineral resources and vast tracts of fertile land. We have been protected not only by the seas, but through long borders with only two other countries, both of which have not posed great threats to our security. The wealth of the nation not owned by any king that we recognized, sponsored the altruism that permitted people freedom, to exploit the bounty, and innovate. We were free from the history of internecene conflict that plagued the old world, our resources funneled into the growth of industry. And through this time, all those who cared more for freedom than nationalism made their way across the world, to become us. Only under those circumstances could a single nation progress humankind to the acme of our existence, McDonalds. > And all the other stuff we did first, and all the times we kicked every other country’s asses. And it was really sweet of the indigenous folk to hand it over to whitey for a penny on the dollar. And, it’s not just here, it’s all around the world. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/103 "2010-08-31T05:52:17Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > So. Are you into jazz, anthropology, archeology or things more devious? All of the above, but only as an avocation. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/104 "2010-08-31T05:56:46Z")
I appreciate the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/105 "2010-08-31T15:39:38Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > And it was really sweet of the indigenous folk to hand it over to whitey for a penny on the dollar. And, it’s not just here, it’s all around the world. When did we start giving a penny on the dollar? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/106 "2010-08-31T17:17:42Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > I appreciate the clarification. Glad to oblige! BTW how did you suss the jazz? I love that music, and I am a musican, but, pretty much I only listen to jazz. My chops really aren’t good enough to play that genre. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/107 "2010-08-31T17:30:51Z")
I was wondering about your user name and came across this. [Pithecanthropus Erectus (album) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pithecanthropus_Erectus_%28album%29) I think I may have put 2 and 2 and made 5. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/108 "2010-08-31T18:02:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Well Adhay, you had it right. It’s all location, location, location. We control the most temperate swath of North America, spanning from ocean to ocean. That land is incredibly rich, teeming with mineral resources and vast tracts of fertile land. We have been protected not only by the seas, but through long borders with only two other countries, both of which have not posed great threats to our security.\ Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/109 "2010-08-31T18:46:44Z")
I spent the weekend in Duluth, and had a terrific time, as always. What was exceptional was the bonfire with s’mores at the hotel. Now I don’t think that it means that the USA as a nation is exceptional, but let’s face it, any place with s’mores is pretty darn good in my books. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/110 "2010-08-31T20:29:27Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > I was wondering about your user name and came across this. [Pithecanthropus Erectus (album) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pithecanthropus_Erectus_%28album%29) I think I may have put 2 and 2 and made 5. Now I remember. I like Mingus, and I’ve heard of the album, but I haven’t actually listened to it. Oddly enough there’s a small software development company out there called Pithecanthropus erectus, and software is, in fact, what I do. But still it’s just a coincidence. ---
**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 31, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/111 "2010-08-31T20:36:56Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > > [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > > > Que eff tee, **Ess of Pee**. And the rules of our political discourse say we can’t even bring it up 'cause the Calvinist Protestants will get all butthurt. Like they’re not now. > > “QUE EFF TEE”, huh, what? **Q** uoted **F** or **T** ruth. A Farkism, I’ll admit, and not often used even there. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/112 "2010-09-01T18:35:05Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Personally I would not like my employer to control my health care A not-so-minor nitpick is that the employer doesn’t usually _control_ health care per se. Usually the way it works is they partially fund your portion of a group policy, but then you work through the insurance company just as if you were a private policy holder. Or, alternatively, the largest companies often have a self-funded contingency account to provide benefits, so it isn’t really “insurance” at all. However, services are still administered by an insurance company, and you still work through them as if you were a policy holder. The company does decide whether or not to provide health coverage at all, but it’s not as if they’re going to tell somebody, “So, Jenkins, because of the way you eff’d up the Stackhouse deal, I don’t believe we’re going to be able to proceed with your wife’s gall bladder operation.” I still don’t like it, and it certainly doesn’t refute your point. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/113 "2010-09-06T02:55:26Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > … > > I still don’t like it, and it certainly doesn’t refute your point. For a relative jazz nube, suggest 3 of your 20 favorite albums. All ears. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/114 "2010-09-06T14:34:45Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > … OK, so far? Now, where were we? Why Is The USA Exceptional Among First World Countries? I write it off to unbridled capitalism. Ruthless at home, ruthless abroad. \*od Bless America. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/115 "2010-09-09T22:10:06Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > > [@adhay](#): > > > > … OK, so far? > > Now, where were we? > > Why Is The USA Exceptional Among First World Countries? > > I write it off to unbridled capitalism. Ruthless at home, ruthless abroad. \*od Bless America. Thread winner? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/116 "2010-09-10T06:30:19Z")
I like the U.S.A. A lot, in fact. Not that he’s never had his troubles, but then, who hasn’t? To be honest, when he first left home at the tender age of 16 (after that drawn out ‘difference of opinion’ with his parents), and moved across the globe to seek his fortune in a foreign land, we all feared the worst, make no mistake. Some of us made the effort to stay in contact with him, but, well, you know how these things go… I think a turning point was when he sent us notification of his desire to legally separate himself from his parents. That was, oh, some time around his 17th I seem to recall. He said he wanted to make a clean start in life, be fully independent. Who were we to argue? By and by he fell in with an odd bunch of like-minded fellows. There was young Bill Offrites (a numbers-runner), Con Gresse (a gang boss) and the gal in his arms, Milli Tias (who danced in a local troupe), as well as a whole bunch of other revolting personages I don’t care to recall. No doubt it was a tough time for him. But this new environment seemed to do wonders for his constitution, which, as a child had always been poor. He worked hard, slaving himself away, day after day and was beginning to make something of himself. He was prospering, to be sure, but at what cost? Some say it was his slavish work-ethic that finally caused him to snap. ‘Split personality’ they said it was, whatever that means. Like there were two of him there was, each the polar opposite of the other, antagonistic to the extreme. Almost killed him, it did. Almost. But in time he came around. Continued working hard. He even tried giving up the drink, for a while at least. But there are some faults even the righteous man can’t conquer. There were periods of depression, long and bleak. There were periods of mania where it seemed there was an enemy under every bed. But when the momentum of despair swung upwards, he could be literally over the moon with confidence and optimism. Yeah, he’s had his ups and downs, but haven’t we all? ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/117 "2010-09-11T22:45:30Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > I like the U.S.A. A lot, in fact. > > Not that he’s never had his troubles, but then, who hasn’t? … > > Yeah, he’s had his ups and downs, but haven’t we all? Nothing like what’s coming in on his Von Braun jackboots, brother. There is a real upside to all this but I would not digress. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/118 "2010-09-14T18:41:18Z")
For your listening pleasure. [http://www.spookymen.com.au/spookycd-ssi.htm](http://www.spookymen.com.au/spookycd-ssi.htm) Check out #11, The Fiddle and the Drum. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/119 "2010-09-26T07:05:18Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > Compared with Europe and the rest of the world’s arms exporters, the USA _is_ exceptional. Is this a joke, or some kind of so ironic bash at America no one will actually get it’s a joke? Since when do measures of civilization get amounted by the arms you manufacture and sell? ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007/120 "2010-09-26T11:05:14Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > > [@adhay](#): > > > > Compared with Europe and the rest of the world’s arms exporters, the USA _is_ exceptional. > > Is this a joke, or some kind of so ironic bash at America no one will actually get it’s a joke? Tilt. > [@](#): > > Since when do measures of civilization get amounted by the arms you manufacture and sell? History is written by the winners. It has always been thus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-exceptional-among-first-world-countries/551007.md?page=7)