How Does America Fare to You?

[xXAsherahXx]

America has had the reputation for being a beacon of hope for almost the entire world for more than 100 years. We also have the reputation of being rednecks, idiots, war-mongering fools, and being stubborn.

So then, on a scale of 1-10, how does good ol' 'Mericuh do for ya?
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After a bit of thought, and influence from your comments. I think I'll score us at the respectable score of 6.5.

Pros:

Great technology, a melting pot of cultures, large cities, large territories, huge economy, and a hefty military to kick any oppposition square in the keister.

Cons:

Massive debt, a surplus of idiots in the Government, a currently clogged up system of Party Politics, the WBC, the KKK, McCarthyism, and money hungry corporations.

 

[FalloutJack]

On a scale of one to ten, I vote ampersand.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Shit if I know, I never keep myself up-to-date on my own countries politics and doings. I really should get around to doing it...

I'll rate it an immature 6.9 for now.

 

[Berethond]

5/10
Needs moar Freedom, less not-freedom.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

Things here are pretty fucked, but a good deal of the world is in a similar state (or worse).

This image is actually not much of a stretch from my hometown. I think I'll go cry myself to sleep...

 

[Atticus89]

Eh, more or less at 7. I love my country, though sometimes I feel the sting of the cultural cringe.

 

[MagicMouse]

5/10
Needs moar Freedom, less not-freedom.

Pretty much this.

Thankfully my state (Wisconsin) has been moving in that direction recently.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I love my country almost as much as I love kittens, puppies, bunnies, and apple pie.

I do not, however, love our government. So 8/10

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

At least 8.5/10.

We are, in fact, freer in almost every line of rights than the vast majority of the world, plus we are still the richest despite massive debt, and still, if I haven't fallen behind the times, the largest GDP in the world. In addition, despite an economic recession (shame on you who would consider the situation as bad as the Great Depression; Yes, I've heard whining that would equate today's market to that of the 1930's) the economy of the United States is as far as my unprofessional eyes can tell nowhere near collapse.

Also, we answer the call more often than not for the most powerful nation in the history of civilization (we really are, not even Rome or Great Britain enjoyed such economic or military superiority/domination) with the most resources of any nation in the world to go out and uphold regional stability, the Geneva Convention, and all that. Yes, we've copped out when the situation does not favor a successful operation, but otherwise we rattle our saber in the right direction.

 

[twistedmic]

I'll say that America rates a 6 to 7.5 with a 10 being Shangri-la/Utopia. I'll admit that America has it's share of problems, but then again, so does every other country. At least in America people can peacefully and without violence protest or demonstrate in public without having to be worried about being gunned down or thrown in prison for the rest of their lives. Americans can loudly and publicly criticize and even mock government officials without being dragged from their homes and tortured to death.

 

[Orekoya]

5/10
Needs moar Freedom, less not-freedom.

Pretty much this.

Thankfully my state (Wisconsin) has been moving in that direction recently.

I wish I could say the same. I'm in Tennessee and the bible belt is so tight in this state that the political candidates can't breathe. Church of Christ is particularly rampant here and I can't wait for that to die off.

 

[DarksideAvatar]

I was born into a country that loved freedom, and hated oppression.

Now we are doing business with countries who frequently, and brutally suppress their own people, and this is something we would never have done when I was young.

I've watched our legislators try to wheedle away at our liberty and the thought keeps coming back to me...

Is this the America our grandparents fought and died for? Sending your fellow Americans job to a tyrannical country just so the corporation can save a couple of bucks to pay off the legislator that made the job move possible?

Do they even lose any sleep at night knowing they are ruining the country? Less pay from job moves means less taxes paid, which means less public services like the police and fire departments as well as social services. Notice how our states are running low on revenues? That's a direct result of sending jobs to other countries. It's only going to get worse.

I don't think the people running the U.S. give a damn quite frankly.

And it makes me sick.

Hey French folks! Got any spare Guillotines? We could really use them here...

After we get ALL our affairs in order, we MIGHT be able to help others. It was never the Founding Fathers vision for this country to be the worlds police force and have entangling alliances.

We should have followed them, and the Constitution into prosperity....But we haven't.

Right now, America is a 5. It's slipping unless we start to worry about our own backyard first.

 

[xXAsherahXx]

At least 8.5/10.

We are, in fact, freer in almost every line of rights than the vast majority of the world, plus we are still the richest despite massive debt, and still, if I haven't fallen behind the times, the largest GDP in the world. In addition, despite an economic recession (shame on you who would consider the situation as bad as the Great Depression; Yes, I've heard whining that would equate today's market to that of the 1930's) the economy of the United States is as far as my unprofessional eyes can tell nowhere near collapse.

Also, we answer the call more often than not for the most powerful nation in the history of civilization (we really are, not even Rome or Great Britain enjoyed such economic or military superiority/domination) with the most resources of any nation in the world to go out and uphold regional stability, the Geneva Convention, and all that. Yes, we've copped out when the situation does not favor a successful operation, but otherwise we rattle our saber in the right direction.

This is the internet, and a liberal forum non the less. While I agree with you, most of the Escapist user's purpose in life is to bash America while consuming vegetables in a dark room underground. In conclusion, despite the flames you will inevitably get, you took the words out of my mouth.

Spicy...I hate both parties, that's mainly why I don't care for America right now. Too many idiots that will hastily defend their party without listening to the other's. Like any rational human being, I have values that coincide with both parties.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Very hard question. See, I don't like the entitled mentality of a lot of Americans, I don't like the hypocrisy of the government at times, I don't like the fact that we're so far in debt that we probably won't crawl out for quite some time, I don't like the way we treat foreigners, I don't like the way people force religion into politics, I don't like the fact that some people are rich enough to buy houses they never see while some people live out of trash cans...

But then again, it's my home, you know? I like how I can pretty much do whatever I want with my life if I put my mind to it and I like how I have a job that actually pays well and that I'm posting something on the internet right now...

It's impossible to really tell, actually. Because the only time I've ever left the country is when I went to Canada as like a 2 year old. But either way, I do love this country despite our problems and describing how much I generally like it with a number doesn't make any sense.

/semi-patriotic rant

 

[Dags90]

America has had the reputation for being a beacon of hope for almost the entire world for more than 100 years. We also have the reputation of being rednecks, idiots, war-mongering fools, and being stubborn.

You also seem to be justifying our reputation for being massively arrogant and culturally ignorant. I'd say America is entirely average when it comes to the rest of the developed world.

 

[funguy2121]

On a scale of one to ten, I vote ampersand.

That's not funny.

I go with the Batman symbol.

A scale is waaaaay too simplistic to describe how I feel about where I've lived my whole life. What are the criteria? The direction I think the country's going in? How well our laws reflect my beliefs? How consistent we are with our stated principals? Are we talking about the government or the people? Standard of living? Quality of art/entertainment?

 

[FalloutJack]

On a scale of one to ten, I vote ampersand.

That's not funny.

I go with the Batman symbol.

A scale is waaaaay too simplistic to describe how I feel about where I've lived my whole life. What are the criteria? The direction I think the country's going in? How well our laws reflect my beliefs? How consistent we are with our stated principals? Are we talking about the government or the people? Standard of living? Quality of art/entertainment?

So happens it's bloody hilarious.

 

[skywalkerlion]

7/10

Love the ideals, don't love our government so much. I have problems with lobbyists, the electoral college, the voting system, and free trade. There's probably more I haven't thought of, but that's a bit.