I've always thought it was strange to conflate "most powerful country" with "best country."

[Gravitycollapse]

In other words, to argue that because we are the most powerful country on Earth, or even because we possess a nearly unchallenged level of total wealth, we are somehow the best to its citizens. Consider all of the prior most powerful, wealthiest nations in human history. When has such a conflation ever been truly accurate?

[Deep13]

1. Greatest country? At what?

Violence, waste, incarceration, wealth disparity, infant morality, ignorance, bigotry?

I don't want a great empire. I want a good republic.

[newfie11]

3. +1. Nt

[Live and Learn]

2. Agreed. nt

[truebluegreen]

4. Back in the 50s you would see billboards

advertising/bragging about the highest standard of living in the world. You could make a case that that equaled "best", but now that it is no longer true they have to tout something else.

[Deep13]

5. and it was never true for many. nt

[truebluegreen]

6. Very true.

But it was a worthier goal.