Is America there firstest with the mostest?

[RepoMan]

Evidently the GOP thinks so, and thinks that Obama doesn’t think so, which makes him Gaw-dayum UnAmurrican!

@USA Today

From the days of the Revolution to the moon landing two centuries later, the idea that the United States is different from and better than anyplace else on Earth has rallied its citizens and propelled its aspirations. Eighty percent of Americans in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll say they believe the country has a unique character and unrivaled standing — a higher degree of national unanimity than on any current policy issue.

Now that historic trope is being wielded as a modern political weapon. Republicans, including a string of prospective presidential contenders, have taken their objections to President Obama’s policies to a provocative and controversial level. Over White House objections, they’re accusing him of not embracing the concept of American exceptionalism, saying he is pursuing an agenda on health care, the economy and foreign affairs that is at odds with fundamentals that distinguish the United States…

Nearly 4 in 10 Americans in the USA TODAY poll doubt Obama believes the United States has a unique character that makes it the greatest country in the world. That’s double the percentage who feel that way about former president Bill Clinton and quadruple the number who say it of Ronald Reagan.

By 9 to 1, those surveyed say Reagan believed in American exceptionalism. By 3 to 2, they say Obama believes in American exceptionalism.

So this makes me wonder: what do you all think? Is America the “greatest country in the world”? And is believing that a necessity for the president?

For the record, what Obama said was:

@Teh Prez

“I think that we have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional,” he said. “Now, the fact that I am very proud of my country and I think that we’ve got a whole lot to offer the world does not lessen my interest in recognizing the value and wonderful qualities of other countries, or recognizing that we’re not always going to be right, or that other people may have good ideas, or that in order for us to work collectively, all parties have to compromise — and that includes us.”

Does this make him an un-American bastard or doesn’t it? Gonna try to combine two, two, TWO polls in one here, so it’s multiple choice. Also made your responses public to increase humor value!

[Damien_Falgoust]

[squirrel]

I’m not sure about the political/emotional issues involved as I don’t live in the US, but I’d think that by most modern metrics (GDP, Military Readiness, Infant Mortality, Average Income etc.) that America would have to rank at the top. It certainly isn’t number 1 in every category for sure, ie. some Scandinavian countries very likely beat it on certain metrics, but if you were to average it out and weight it for population I’d think it’s still the primary Superpower.

That said, it certainly seems to be facing some stiff competition, if not from other nations then from regional blocs.

And I highly doubt Obama doesn’t feel similarly. Humility is not a vice.

[RepoMan]

Nice! Skorin and tiohn voted for all five options. Way to shit up the poll, guys! Glad I made it public :-)

[HumanTon]

Note that the “debate” isn’t about whether the US actually is exceptional, but rather whether the Prez chants “USA! USA! USA!” enough to appease the ghost of St. Ronnie. Because the people pushing this would never think to question whether the US is number #1 in the first place … and wouldn’t believe the facts if someone told them.

(Hint: We’re not actually #1 at much except total GDP, military spending, morbid obesity, and complacency about how awesome we are. Norway has higher per capita GDP than us, a whole bunch of countries have higher household income, most of the OECD lives longer, all of Western Europe has lower infant mortality, Canada has a higher percentage of college graduates, etc. etc. etc.)

[Gus_Smedstad1]

@RepoMan

Nice! Skorin and tiohn voted for all five options.

Wish I’d thought of that.

[Kurdel]

My problem with American exceptionalism is not based on whether they are number one or not. Because I am certain that when other countries such as China and India gradually surpass the US in these sectors, the idea of exceptionnalism will remain. Because a large portion of americans believe that the US is actually a gift from God and that He is what makes it all great.

Obama probably has a lot of internal pressure to be more rah-rah-rah usa usa, and I admire his pragmatism.

[Destarius]

America is pretty great, but I hardly think it can lay claim to being the greatest country in the world.

Also epic humility fail. Making claims like that just pisses the rest of the world off.

[Preachy_Preach]

[QUOTE=squirrel;2507902]I’m not sure about the political/emotional issues involved as I don’t live in the US, but I’d think that by most modern metrics (GDP, Military Readiness, Infant Mortality, Average Income etc.) that America would have to rank at the top. [QUOTE]

Guess which one of the above doesn’t belong? It’s hard, at times, to avoid the suspicion that America’s become a classic imperial state, but with a startling degree of denial about this fact.

List of countries by infant and under-five mortality rates

[John_Many_Jars]

America sucks, as do Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The Antipodes also suck, and Antarctica and the Moon double suck. The only good humans are professional wrestlers.

[JazzJ]

Worst. Poll. Evar.

[corsair]

@John Many Jars

America sucks, as do Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The Antipodes also suck, and Antarctica and the Moon double suck. The only good humans are professional wrestlers.

“The wind doesn’t blow, the Earth sucks!”

[Timex]

@Destarius

America is pretty great, but I hardly think it can lay claim to being the greatest country in the world.

Then which country is better? The answer “all countries are great in their own way!” is garbage.

In my mind, I would rather live in the US than anywhere else, so it’s the greatest. Certainly, others may disagree… Which is good, because everyone can’t come over here.

@Destarius

Also epic humility fail. Making claims like that just pisses the rest of the world off.

Oh noes!

[HumanTon]

I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love…

[madkevin]

@Timex

In my mind, I would rather live in the US than anywhere else, so it’s the greatest.

Wait 'till you get sick.

[Timex]

@madkevin

Wait 'till you get sick.

Ya… turns out that I’m one of the vast majority who actually has good healthcare. So I’m cool with that.

I know that lots of folks out there seem to think that we just throw our sick onto big pyres and burn them, but the horror stories you hear about our healthcare system? Those stories really aren’t the NORM.

[JazzJ]

All those people who say they have good healthcare? Yeah, a ton find out after they get seriously ill that it wasn’t so good after all.

[mixuk]

Newsweek already sorted this out. Finland is the best country on earth.

http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/15/best-countries-in-the-world.html

[mdowdle]

@corsair

“The wind doesn’t blow, the Earth sucks!”

The way I heard it was “there is no gravity, the Earth just sucks.”

[liquorice]

@mixuk

Newsweek already sorted this out. Finland is the best country on earth.

As someone with dual citizenship who has lived in both countries, I can vouch for this.

It’s pretty cold here and somewhat boring, but your chances of getting completely fucked over are much lower.

Hell, when my brother broke his arm, it cost him as much here to do all the xrays and checkups here as it did just to take the cast off when we were back in the US.