Lifestyle > Train of Thought
Proof that America is #1
WestCoasta:
AHHHHHHHH FUCK AmeriKKKa
Ant:
--- Quote from: Real American on June 12, 2006, 02:42:29 PM ---
--- Quote from: M Dogg on June 12, 2006, 08:10:05 AM ---This is from ABC news, and it was about 1999. Back then, we have the DotCom boom in the Silcon Valley, which went belly up since then, and a lot of problems we were willing to admit because our president was willing to address them. What has changed, we are at war, we are now seen as global bullies, and our president is an ass hole.
--- End quote ---
It doesn't matter what year it was from, our basic American values haven't changed. As that show pointed out, countries that are more open, more capitalistic and with less government interference are generally the most well off. That is why France, Italy, and all the other socialistic European nations are so far behind in their economy. Capitalism >>>> Socialism >>> Communism
Conservative values in running an economy are just plain better.
--- End quote ---
Without a doubt open, capitalistic societies generate more wealth. Minimal government intervention helps too, but are we "just plain better?" That really depends on your metrics. Obviously your main metric is per capita incomr, but there are other metrics to choose from. For instance, GNH or Gross National Happiness, which the US and most countries don't care much about. Here's an interesting economic analysis of how wealth and other variables effect happiness:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CC49FI/ref=pd_sim_b_1/103-3315359-1445434?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
Basically, if you compare the average happiness to the US to that of other countries, you find there are countries that have higher GNH than we do, despite lower per capita income. In fact, GNH in the US hasn't changed in decades despite significant improvements in per capita income.
But really, to most people this is commonsense. We all hear people say "money doesn't buy you happiness." A lot of peope believe that for good reason. Economic surveys show it's true. Money buys you happiness only up until a point. Movement from poverty to middle class elevates happiness, but any movement further up the ladder doesn't. This is a fact. It's been tested time and time again. Promotions and salary increases on average increase happiness for less than 6 months, then people return to their prior state. In fact, other variables like marriage, community activities, crime, children, leisure time, freedom, sexual activity, etc effect an inviduals happiness far more.
That's not to diss our economy. The rest of the world could learn a lot from us, but the world is more complicated than you make it out to be.
Another intersting point in regards to this show. While I thought it raised plenty of good points, especially about red-tape depressing an economy, its kind of funny to think that this show dissed India all day, and now India is one of the world's fastest growing economies and has been since this show aired. That kills a lot of their credibility. China is another fast growing economy despite plenty of red-tape and government intervention. I ain't gonna say this show sucks, but come on, how can you get so excited about it when current events clearly refute a lot of their points.
J Bananas:
^^^i agree with this guy entirely for once.
AndrE16686:
The EU GDP dwarfs that of the US at $10.5 Trillion (US) anyway.
The EU has the world's largest economy, not the US!
This 'Amerikwa iz da bestest bestest place in tha whole wide wide world' bullshit has no basis.
J Bananas:
^^unless you live here you wouldnt know the 24 hour high that is being American. food tastes better, lights are brighter, and music sounds like dj quik came to your front door and started rappin, i pity everyone else from your shitty boring homelands with no all night fast food joints or hooters or disneyland. matter of fact yall suck compared to here.
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