Reply #227: The United States was extremely lucky, compared to the rest of the world...

[Solon]

Historically. A Large amount of natural resources, no immediate foreign threats, and a relatively small indigenous population to conquer and control. The U.S. was lucky, and using its position of security, in the geographical sense, was able to, and continues, to use its combination of economic and military might to keep its relatively high standard of living without regard to the amount of people they step on in the process.