Why is the US such a great nation?

2010-03-21 10:31:06

#1

Benzin: Member; +576|6289

This isn't an attempt to be a troll or anything, but I have a question/topic that I think warrants a discussion.

Outside of military accomplishments, what has the United States done in the past 40 years that really can justify the title of being "a great nation". I always hear people saying "this great nation" and other variations and after reading a short blog a friend wrote about how the US is starting to fall, I had to ask myself, when was the last time that the US was actually great?

In the past 40 years, so from 1970-2010, what has the United States really done as a country that is so great? The space program is really one of the only things I can think of. The Civil Rights Movement was in the 60s as was the first moon landing, but after 1970? OK, more moon landings and an expansion of space exploration. What else?

Again, this is the United States as a country. Not that famous individuals have come from the United States or anything like that, but actually as a country of people (represented via a government or not).

Discuss.

2010-03-21 10:32:29

#2

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7007

Economic superiority, American consumerism provided a lot of jobs in Asia, protected Taiwan from getting invaded everyday (Same with South Korea...) Defended Europe from ze ruskies and tried to stop a shit load of genocides.

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2010-03-21 10:34:09

#3

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6696|North Carolina

Well, it depends on the definition of "great." Some would say we're great just by virtue of being the last superpower. Of course, this status is likely to be shortlived given current trends.

Others would say we're great for our level of innovation in technology. We have a lot of inventors among our population.

Still others would say we're great because we have more personal freedoms than almost any other nation. In all honesty, I can't actually think of a country with more personal freedoms.

2010-03-21 10:34:40

#4

Benzin: Member; +576|6289

Military accomplishments don't count. So OK, economic super power. Shopping has made us great... It's created jobs, so I'll buy into that. What else?

EDIT (Turq responded):
Inventors don't count - again, as a country. Personal freedoms? Really? Last I checked most everything in the Bill of Rights was also in most European countries.

The shopping thing again isn't really that big of a thing. Europe is pretty large, too and Germany and England both have a lot of power in the world when it comes to economics.

Last edited by CapnNismo (2010-03-21 10:37:08)

2010-03-21 10:37:04

#5

jord: Member; +2,382|6969|The North, beyond the wall.

Turquoise wrote:
Well, it depends on the definition of "great." Some would say we're great just by virtue of being the last superpower. Of course, this status is likely to be shortlived given current trends.

Others would say we're great for our level of innovation in technology. We have a lot of inventors among our population.

Still others would say we're great because we have more personal freedoms than almost any other nation. In all honesty, I can't actually think of a country with more personal freedoms.

Somalia.

As for the OP, like above, it depends on how you define "great". Does anybody, any organisation or any country do anything that will not benefit in some way? Be it morally, financially or other... I do not know, I do know that billions in Aid to Africa, whether to look better on the world stage or because of US popular demand, is indeed a great thing regardless.

2010-03-21 10:37:22

#6

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7007

CapnNismo wrote:
Military accomplishments don't count. So OK, economic super power. Shopping has made us great... It's created jobs, so I'll buy into that. What else?

Internet infrastructure. Stopping genocides is also a human rights thing I would add. Donating a ton of money to aid programs is a big plus imo.

2010-03-21 10:40:40

#7

Benzin: Member; +576|6289

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mo … _countries So the US is the most charitable nation in the world. OK, certainly not bad. But if we count the EU countries altogether, they've got the US beat by a long shot.

Does building the Internet really make us great, though? The rest of the world is doing it, too, and Japan and South Korea are lapping us in terms of capability.

Last edited by CapnNismo (2010-03-21 10:41:49)

2010-03-21 10:43:44

#8

jord: Member; +2,382|6969|The North, beyond the wall.

CapnNismo wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_charitable_countries So the US is the most charitable nation in the world. OK, certainly not bad. But if we count the EU countries altogether, they've got the US beat by a long shot.

Ya but why would be count the EU countries together?

That's an interesting list, 12 billion for the UK is far too much for my liking.

2010-03-21 10:45:11

#9

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|6940

Because they produce the vast majority of the worlds pornography.

2010-03-21 10:45:47

#10

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7007

CapnNismo wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_charitable_countries So the US is the most charitable nation in the world. OK, certainly not bad. But if we count the EU countries altogether, they've got the US beat by a long shot.

Does building the Internet really make us great, though? The rest of the world is doing it, too, and Japan and South Korea are lapping us in terms of capability.

They definitely did jump start it, especially in India. It really helped India turn from a shit hole to a high tech country. A lot of things go hand in hand as well... especially military and economy. South Korea and Japan could develop could develop only because of US protection. Japan grew coz of American soldiers spending money in Japan during Korean war (and the whole Sony copying camera technology lol).

2010-03-21 10:52:15

#11

Hurricane2k9: Pendulous Sweaty Balls; +1,538|5992|College Park, MD

Science

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2010-03-21 10:53:09

#12

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5550|foggy bottom

entertainment

Tu Stultus Es

2010-03-21 11:01:52

#13

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6696|North Carolina

CapnNismo wrote:
Personal freedoms? Really? Last I checked most everything in the Bill of Rights was also in most European countries.

It's not so much a matter of doctrine that matters as much as implementation. While it is true that most of Europe has the same basic freedoms as we do, the differences are things like how we allow freer speech (no penalty for Holocaust denial, for example) and allow handgun ownership among the general public (pretty much unheard of in most of Europe).

It's the extent of freedom that we are mostly unparalleled in.

2010-03-21 11:03:30

#14

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6696|North Carolina

jord wrote:
Somalia.

lol... well, anarchy tends to be one of the most oppressive systems in the long run....

2010-03-21 11:06:09

#15

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5550|foggy bottom

freedom from royalty

Tu Stultus Es

2010-03-21 11:17:06

#16

mikkel: Member; +383|6892

eleven bravo wrote:
freedom from royalty

Still stuck with slavery to royalties though. It's killing the innovation that the country once took pride in.

2010-03-21 11:17:49

#17

jord: Member; +2,382|6969|The North, beyond the wall.

Turquoise wrote:
CapnNismo wrote:
Personal freedoms? Really? Last I checked most everything in the Bill of Rights was also in most European countries.
It's not so much a matter of doctrine that matters as much as implementation. While it is true that most of Europe has the same basic freedoms as we do, the differences are things like how we allow freer speech (no penalty for Holocaust denial, for example) and allow handgun ownership among the general public (pretty much unheard of in most of Europe).

It's the extent of freedom that we are mostly unparalleled in.

Well I won't speak for Europe but I know the UK hanguns are legal, as are rifles. We just have stricter vetting processes that don't allow total and utter mongoloids that barely know the dangerous end of a weapon own 10 large calibre weapons. I wouldn't put freedom as a great thing because that's a very grey idea, charity is one though. fo sho

2010-03-21 11:19:59

#18

aerodynamic: FOCKING HELL; +241|6044|Roma

bangbros.

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2010-03-21 11:25:02

#19

mikkel: Member; +383|6892

Turquoise wrote:
CapnNismo wrote:
Personal freedoms? Really? Last I checked most everything in the Bill of Rights was also in most European countries.
It's not so much a matter of doctrine that matters as much as implementation. While it is true that most of Europe has the same basic freedoms as we do, the differences are things like how we allow freer speech (no penalty for Holocaust denial, for example) and allow handgun ownership among the general public (pretty much unheard of in most of Europe).

It's the extent of freedom that we are mostly unparalleled in.

It's true that there are a handful of preposterously stupid limitations to the freedom of speech in Europe, but having experienced both sides, the overwhelming condemnation and government-enacted censorship in the U.S. of anything that might be considered immoral by the most sensitive of people is a lot worse.

During the course of a typical day, the U.S. seems a lot less free than Denmark ever did to me.

Last edited by mikkel (2010-03-21 11:26:11)

2010-03-21 11:25:19

#20

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6997|67.222.138.85

What has the country done discounting what the people of the country have done?

By your definition what has any country done of note?

2010-03-21 11:26:56

#21

S3v3N: lolwut?; +685|6809|Montucky

Ebay

2010-03-21 11:31:29

#22

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5550|foggy bottom

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Tu Stultus Es

2010-03-21 11:33:53

#23

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5648|London, England

CapnNismo wrote:
This isn't an attempt to be a troll or anything, but I have a question/topic that I think warrants a discussion.

Outside of military accomplishments, what has the United States done in the past 40 years that really can justify the title of being "a great nation". I always hear people saying "this great nation" and other variations and after reading a short blog a friend wrote about how the US is starting to fall, I had to ask myself, when was the last time that the US was actually great?

In the past 40 years, so from 1970-2010, what has the United States really done as a country that is so great? The space program is really one of the only things I can think of. The Civil Rights Movement was in the 60s as was the first moon landing, but after 1970? OK, more moon landings and an expansion of space exploration. What else?

Again, this is the United States as a country. Not that famous individuals have come from the United States or anything like that, but actually as a country of people (represented via a government or not).

Discuss.

The personal computer, the internet, the ipod and thousands of other things have originated and spread from America to the rest of the world. I know you're a pseudo-American who hates his country but we give a lot more to the world than we take. Apart from our recent troubles which everyone else is experiencing as well, we're also the nation with the highest GDP on the planet, and it's not even close.

So sowwy but you're adopted homeland is not superior.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2010-03-21 11:55:40

#24

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6696|North Carolina

mikkel wrote:
It's true that there are a handful of preposterously stupid limitations to the freedom of speech in Europe, but having experienced both sides, the overwhelming condemnation and government-enacted censorship in the U.S. of anything that might be considered immoral by the most sensitive of people is a lot worse.

During the course of a typical day, the U.S. seems a lot less free than Denmark ever did to me.

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree. From over here, it looks like Denmark is being culturally hijacked by Islamists.

Last edited by Turquoise (2010-03-21 11:55:54)

2010-03-21 11:57:39

#25

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6696|North Carolina

jord wrote:
Well I won't speak for Europe but I know the UK hanguns are legal, as are rifles. We just have stricter vetting processes that don't allow total and utter mongoloids that barely know the dangerous end of a weapon own 10 large calibre weapons. I wouldn't put freedom as a great thing because that's a very grey idea, charity is one though. fo sho

Fair point... Still, I'll take freer speech over better gun control.

BF2S Forums Why is the US such a great nation?

Turquoise wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

jord wrote:

eleven bravo wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

mikkel wrote:

jord wrote:

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