• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Is America the greatest nation on earth?

Is America the greatest country on earth?

  • Yes

    Votes: 45 45.9%

  • No

    Votes: 53 54.1%
  • Total voters
    98
Peter Grimm

Peter Grimm

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
10,348
Reaction score
2,426
Location
The anals of history
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Progressive
This is seen as nearly axiomatic in some circles. In others, it's seen as misguided arrogance.

I want to know whether the maxim rings true with you, and your reasoning.


Focus specifically on these areas, if at all possible...... 1.) Freedom 2.) Diversity 3.) Opportunity
 
We're diverse, but also segregated. Freedom and opportunity (which I see as going hand in hand)...eh, not really, and it's getting worse. I guess you could say that some Americans are more free and have more opportunity than others.
 
I used to think so, but we're falling further into mediocrity these days.
 
My thoughts: Yes, this is the greatest nation on earth. Below are some of the reasons....

- We're the richest. We have more money than any other nation on earth and it ain't close.
- We're the smartest. We have something like over half of the world's Nobel Prize winners. Our universities are the top ranked in the world.
- We're the most industrial. Modern industry as you know it was invented and perfected in the US of A.
- We kick ass. Most powerful military in the history of human civilization relative to our contemporaries
- We're not sissies - looking at you, France
- We innovate. We invented pretty much everything in existence in the modern world, and that trend is continuing.
- We sent a man to the moon for christ's sake. That was 50 years ago. No other nation has yet to be able to do it, even today.
- We don't have stupid royalty or aristocracies. America is the only country on earth where going rags to riches is truly seen as possible.
- We dominate the global political scene. If America wants something done, such as a treaty, it gets done.
- Other nations need us more than we need them.
- We utterly dominate popular culture and the arts - Hollywood baby. ALL the movies that seen by a broad audience are American. We invented rock and roll, the blues, rap, hip hop, and all the modern media. We invented television, and pretty much everything that goes on it.


I could go on, but that's a start.
 
Last edited:
lizzie said:
I used to think so, but we're falling further into mediocrity these days.
Click to expand...

Does a mediocre nation send men to the moon, and then get bored of it? If any other nation were capable of sending a man to the moon, they would have done so. We did it 50 years ago.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Does a mediocre nation send men to the moon, and then get bored of it? If any other nation were capable of sending a man to the moon, they would have done so. We did it 50 years ago.
Click to expand...

Yeah, we used to be great.
 
lizzie said:
Yeah, we used to be great.
Click to expand...

What's the latest and greatest technology today? Computers and the internet? Both American inventions, and America dominates both industries. We always have been and always will be leading the pack when it comes to driving the direction of technology.
 
That cell phone in your pocket? Guess who invented it? America. You're welcome, world.
 
Who invented the airplane? AMERICA.

Who built the first nuclear reactor and who was the first to split the atom? AMERICA.


Boy I could go on and on.
 
Peter Grimm said:
My thoughts: Yes, this is the greatest nation on earth. Below are some of the reasons....

- We're the richest. We have more money than
Click to expand...

Unless your last name is Walton, Gates, Jobs, or Zuckerberger, you might want to double check your online banking balance.

- We're the smartest. We have something like over half of the world's Nobel Prize winners. Our universities are the top ranked in the world.
Click to expand...

Hardly true. Our best and brightest university professors also often originate from outside the US.

- We're the most industrial. Modern industry as you know it was invented and perfected in the US of A.
Click to expand...

Modern society as I know it was perfected by the Japanese, Sony in particular, revolutionizing personal electronics.

- We kick ass. Most powerful military in the history of human civilization relative to our contemporaries
Click to expand...

Who would be our contemporaries?

- We're not sissies - looking at you, France
Click to expand...

You go--ranch dressing kicks french dressing's ass with or without gloves.
- We innovate. We invented pretty much everything in existence in the modern world, and that trend is continuing.
Click to expand...

Hardly true at all.
- We sent a man to the moon for christ's sake. That was 50 years ago. No other nation has yet to be able to do it, even today.
Click to expand...

Nothing screams American superiority like us not even being able to put a man into orbit without paying the Russians 50 years later.

- We don't have stupid royalty or aristocracies. America is the only country on earth where going rags to riches is truly seen as possible.
Click to expand...

Kween Kim Kardashian might have you drawn in Kwuartered.

- We dominate the global political scene. If America wants something done, such as a treaty, it gets done.
Click to expand...

:lamo Bashar al Assad remaining in power certainly proves your point there :ind:

- Other nations need us, we don't need them.
Click to expand...

Got a link for that from a source other than Fox News?


I could go on, but that's a start.
Click to expand...

with a five yard penalty and a repeat of first down.
 
Peter Grimm said:
That cell phone in your pocket? Guess who invented it? America. You're welcome, world.
Click to expand...

Totally get what lizzie is saying, but I'm appreciating your enthusiasm. I think expressing pride in this country is considerd sort of bad form by some. I still think we have a lot to be proud of.
 
Peter Grimm said:
This is seen as nearly axiomatic in some circles. In others, it's seen as misguided arrogance.

I want to know whether the maxim rings true with you, and your reasoning.

Focus specifically on these areas, if at all possible...... 1.) Freedom 2.) Diversity 3.) Opportunity
Click to expand...

By most accounts on the subject of freedom the US hardly cracks the top 10. The usual reason for that is our issues with criminal justice, incarceration rates (all in disparate ways,) and obvious issues with government blanket surveillance of the populace. Our crime rates do not help the matter, but that becomes secondary argument. Diversity is still a bit of a mess, entirely for political reasons. When it comes to opportunity we face similar concerns but with real economic difficulty, usually held back by the increasing difference between income quintiles and low employment participation rate.

How the hell can we be the greatest nation on earth given all this? I mean I know everyone wants to say so, but the reality behind the numbers should be telling us something.
 
Depends on what variables you hold to come to the conclusion that we are the "greatest"
 
Peter Grimm said:
My thoughts: Yes, this is the greatest nation on earth. Below are some of the reasons....

- We're the richest. We have more money than any other nation on earth and it ain't close.
- We're the smartest. We have something like over half of the world's Nobel Prize winners. Our universities are the top ranked in the world.
- We're the most industrial. Modern industry as you know it was invented and perfected in the US of A.
- We kick ass. Most powerful military in the history of human civilization relative to our contemporaries
- We're not sissies - looking at you, France
- We innovate. We invented pretty much everything in existence in the modern world, and that trend is continuing.
- We sent a man to the moon for christ's sake. That was 50 years ago. No other nation has yet to be able to do it, even today.
- We don't have stupid royalty or aristocracies. America is the only country on earth where going rags to riches is truly seen as possible.
- We dominate the global political scene. If America wants something done, such as a treaty, it gets done.
- Other nations need us, we don't need them.


I could go on, but that's a start.
Click to expand...

We are also far too complacent.
 
The guy in this video sums it up better than I ever could:

 
Yes.
The question is not whether the USA is the greatest its ever been nor is the USA utopia, but greater than other countries. The answer is yes for too many reasons to list.

The media, schools and the overall epidemic of self pity, whining and expecting something for nothing have lead to the extraordinary reality of so far a majority are answering no.

I think those members should then say what country they want to move to or otherwise think is greater.
 
I havent seen any suggestions for a country better than the US yet. Those freedom rankings are pretty much junk we get down graded because we actually lock up our criminals instead of letting them run the streets and we get down graded on freedom of speech for allowing protections to classified information yet countries where you can go to jail for stupid tweets are ranked higher.
 
The never ending underlying issue will always be that minorities in what are considered "Cultural European home base" countries (US/Australia/UK/Canada/Germany/France) will never truly be accepted into white European cultures core just as white Europeans would never be accepted into black Africans cultures core and this creates an impossible-to-fill void within such minorities who feel they should eventually gain "access" to the American white European culture when truth is they were never ever going to be truly let in, even by the most liberal of whites.
 
Peter Grimm said:
- We innovate. We invented pretty much everything in existence in the modern world, and that trend is continuing.
Click to expand...

Let's look at a few of the inventions that make the modern world what it is today:

Antibiotics: A Scottish guy.
Internal Combustion engine: Belgian
Telephone: Scottish guy in Canada
Microchip: British guy
Television: A brit, a German, and a Scot invented the precursors, a pair of Russians invented the first television based on their work.
Computer: A brit if you count Babbage, Turing, or Flowers. A German if you go with Kuse.
Cars: a German
Satellites: Russians
Spaceship: Russians
Light Bulbs: Americans
Airplanes: Americans

On that list, the US has TWO things. Hell, the first personal computer was made by Italians. We often assume things are invented by Americans, when they aren't.
 
TeleKat said:
The guy in this video sums it up better than I ever could:

Click to expand...


Pitiful - particularly when he explains America USED to be great. Is he referring to the days of slavery or the great depression? Racial segregation or the Vietnam war era?

Just I HATE AMERICA junk.
 
TeleKat said:
The guy in this video sums it up better than I ever could:

Click to expand...


then you must be not be able to sum up your thoughts at all. This ****ing moron claimed the US was 178th in infant mortality like it was a bad thing, the lower you are ranked the less infants are dying.
 
Declan said:
Unless your last name is Walton, Gates, Jobs, or Zuckerberger, you might want to double check your online banking balance.
Click to expand...

I'm nearly a millionaire, self made, and I'm in my early 30's. That would ONLY be possible in America.


Declan said:
Hardly true. Our best and brightest university professors also often originate from outside the US.
Click to expand...

Immigrants are one of the biggest reasons America is the greatest nation on earth. They come here to be great, rather than stay home to be mediocre.

Declan said:
Modern society as I know it was perfected by the Japanese, Sony in particular, revolutionizing personal electronics.
Click to expand...

Wrong.

Declan said:
Who would be our contemporaries?
Click to expand...

Other countries in the modern world


Declan said:
You go--ranch dressing kicks french dressing's ass with or without gloves.
Click to expand...

Ironically, French dressing is actually also an American invention. Look it up and be amazed.

Declan said:
Hardly true at all.
Click to expand...

Totally true

Declan said:
Nothing screams American superiority like us not even being able to put a man into orbit without paying the Russians 50 years later.
Click to expand...

Oh we're more than able, but you have to understand the American way is to farm out the mundane stuff to other nations and pay them to do it for us. We've already reached that benchmark. The first man on Mars will be an American.


Declan said:
Kween Kim Kardashian might have you drawn in Kwuartered.
Click to expand...

I find her strangely attractive and repulsive at the same time.


Declan said:
:lamo Bashar al Assad remaining in power certainly proves your point there :ind:
Click to expand...

Let's see how long he lasts.

Declan said:
Got a link for that from a source other than Fox News?
Click to expand...

Yep. Ask and you shall receive. Would you like to hear how other nations are dependent on us for military support, for their economic well-being, for political support, or... you pick.



Declan said:
with a five yard penalty and a repeat of first down.
Click to expand...

Football. Only in America.
 
Tucker Case said:
Let's look at a few of the inventions that make the modern world what it is today:

Antibiotics: A Scottish guy.
Internal Combustion engine: Belgian
Telephone: Scottish guy in Canada
Microchip: British guy
Television: A brit, a German, and a Scot invented the precursors, a pair of Russians invented the first television based on their work.
Computer: A brit if you count Babbage, Turing, or Flowers. A German if you go with Kuse.
Cars: a German
Satellites: Russians
Spaceship: Russians
Light Bulbs: Americans
Airplanes: Americans

On that list, the US has TWO things. Hell, the first personal computer was made by Italians. We often assume things are invented by Americans, when they aren't.
Click to expand...

Be sure and don't mention such as mass production of affordable automobiles.

I bet the Japanese would mention the Atomic bomb - which caused their entire country to suddenly surrender - preventing a land war of millions of casualties.

Any you posted that message on a computer running on software and an operating system invented by the French, right? :roll:

But keep running down this country and believe you prove it up by searching for what was invented in other countries thinking you're proving it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom