Answer to Question: Why Do Some Americans Call the USA the Greatest Country on Earth?

Why do some call the U.S., "The greatest country on earth?"

Answer by John D. Gleissner

Because some of us believe it's true. We've got:

(1) The world's oldest written constitution that enshrines and guarantees basic rights, federalism and the rule of law, that has provided free elections every two years for over 228 years, always moved in the direction of inclusiveness, and which has been a model constitution for other nations.

(2) A history of defeating colonialism, fascism, dictatorships, diseases, the slave trade, slavery, legal racism and communism. The world looks to the USA and its strong allies for leadership when it is time to oppose evil forces. The United States is far from perfect, but somehow winds up on the side of prosperity, freedom, justice, innovation and liberty.

(3) A history of leadership in inventing or developing the lightning rod, light bulb, telephone, telegraph, the airplane, manufacturing, television, missiles and rockets, the computer, lifesaving medicines and medical devices, agricultural innovations, nuclear power, satellite communications, hydroelectric dams, ships, bridges, aircraft, spacecraft, the transistor and a host of different products and services; and leadership in numerous scientific disciplines.

(4) A history of creativity in literature, art, films, television, computers, engineering, aerospace, science, athletics, business, the humanities and music.

(5) The strongest economy, agricultural sector and military in the world and a safe haven for investments from all over the world. When times get tough, foreign investors vote for the United States with their money, sending their assets to the United States for safekeeping.

(6) Great universities, the most Nobel Prize winners and an attractive destination for leading thinkers and innovators from all over the world.

(7) The headquarters of the United Nations.

(8) A country many others in the world long to enter. The United States debates the best ways to keep people out of the country, and always has more applicants for residence than places available.

(9) A motto: In God We Trust. Providence blessed the USA with tremendous natural resources and a terrific geographic position in the world. In the twentieth century, the United States was said to be running out of oil and gas, and fully dependent upon the Middle East, Venezuela and foreign nations for its oil. In the twenty-first century, the United States is the world's #1 producer of oil and gas.

(10) A two-party system reducing special interests to the smallest number of political parties while preserving an adversary political dynamic so necessary for free elections.

(11) Liberty, a diverse and talented population, opportunities and freedom.

The author John Dewar Gleissner has written a book, Prison & Slavery -- A Surprising Comparison, in which he proposes reforms to reduce massive incarceration and crime. ( https://www.amazon.com/Prison-Slavery-John-Dewar-Gleissner/dp/1432753835 ). At the same time, the book takes the position that the USA is the greatest nation on earth. He hosts the blog Incarceration Reform Mega-Site, http://incarcerationreform.blogspot.com/2016/01/please-check-out-following-prison.html, and has numerous publications to his credit ( https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/JohnGleissner ).