We're... NOT #1 -and it's more patriotic to realize that NOW!

[Liberal_Christian]

All anyone hears from the supposed "real" Americans are WE'RE #1! And if anyone says different, we're "blaming America First" but what exactly are we #1 in?

healthcare? -no. we're #37 according to The World Health Organization

Public education? -no. we're not even in the top 25 according to a Telegraph(UK) ranking.

Crime prevention? -no. we're ranked #8 in crime rate. (#1 being the highest in crime)

Employment? -no. we're #12 according to The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Low Poverty? -no. we're ranked #21 from the country with the lowest amount of poverty.

http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571445/World-ra...
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_percap-cr...
http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/28440083?limit_modifi...
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-e...

Listen, I love my country, its history, its values, its freedoms, its innovations, and the vast amount of good that it's done for the rest of the world; I am a patriot but why is it considered unpatriotic to learn from the rest of the world? I'm sick of people being accused of being unpatriotic and America-hating when we stop for a moment and realize that some countries just do somethings better and show an aspiration on adopting new ideas. It's called HUMILITY; you put the arrogance aside and learn something. As an American, I WANT my country to be "#1" but that's not going to happen via bad case of denial. You have to know you have a problem before fixing it.

[sarcasmo]

1. I have been saying this all along on this board, thanks for posting the numbers.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. We make good war. Numero Uno on that, however it would be

better if we didn't have to.

[dotymed]

11. We don't HAVE TO....

[ChelseaCenior]

3. ...

Yeah, we are the only country in the world that has to tell every one else how great we are... hmmmm perhaps if we didn't say it, no body would.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. #1 in big macs, hell yeah

[Warped Theory]

5. reply

I'm gonna tattoo these stats on my forehead. hah.
Every country is told that they're number one. If they weren't, the brainwash button wouldn't work and authority would lose control.
Statistics from other countries would be helpful comparisons as well.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Cal33]

8. Judging from the few replies, it seems that people, even progressives and liberals,

mostly don't like to take a good look at themselves. It takes a lot of
courage to try to make an honest appraisal of oneself.

[Laurier]

9. The U.S. is not #1 in many things, but it has great potential.

There is nothing wrong with Americans being supportive of their country, and Americans are justified in taking great pride in their country and the wonderful accomplishments that it has made over the past few centuries. That said, there is much room for great improvement across numerous sectors, some of which are pointed out in the opening post.

And the OP is correct: you have to recognize the problem before you can fix it.

I am not American, but I believe that "all y'all" are collectively capable of recognizing your problems and fixing them in order to bring your country back up to the standard that it once defined. I wish you well.

[gwashington2650]

10. Definitely

Though many won't bother reading anything in your post, and will keep on believing that myth.