America is Falling Behind

[anarchy]

[Stratego]

There are 200+ nations in the world. Why do we only rank 20? We are 17 of 200+ not 17 of 20.
And if we keep invading countries and breaking them apart we can eventually be 17 out of 300+ thus improving our ranking from top 9% to top 6% of the nations.

[Darkhorse]

There seems to be a major correlation between racial and ethnic homogeneity and the well being of countries. Perhaps diversity isn't as great as we've been lead to believe?

[phosphide]

The interesting thing is that these three issues are really related to one another. My solutions:

1. Prison System - end war on drugs, increase funding for programs like http://www.prisonentrepreneurship.org/
2. Education - implement lean six sigma methodologies to cut down costs, decrease spending on athletics, increase funding for STEM, and decrease drop out rates. Stop buying f**k ipads for students too.
3. Healthcare - change intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical companies, etc., focus on reducing costs across the board, litigation

However, everything about these three issues really depends on two special words: economic development. If there are no quality opportunities available, prisoners will end up back in jail, economically disadvantaged students will continue to under perform, and healthcare will continue to be unpaid for. We have to do something about the corporate tax rate, patent system, litigation, and immigration to make any future impact on the quality of life for Americans.

[Professor]

Dammit. I still haven't made real progress on my project that I wanted to do. But, here's my hypothesis. The US is one of the best countries in the world, all things considered.

I wanted to look at pretty much every statistic that I could get my hands on. Healthcare rankings, business environment, tax rankings, incarceration, health, happiness, etc. Arrange them so that a "good" rank was #1 (some would have to be inverted, like when we're ranked #1 for incarcerations or whatnot). Also, subjectively not use certain lists that can't be considered good or bad (for instance, "high taxes" may be good or bad - it's what you do with them that is determinative). Then, see which countries actually come out on top.

My hypothesis is this. While the US may not be the best in HC, for instance, the countries that rank above it may not also rank above it in a survey on business environment. For example, from the above lists:

Health
South Korea - 58
United States - 37

Education
South Korea - 2
United States - 17

That's an average of US = 27 and SK = 30. So, the US actually comes out ahead.

I'm wondering if, while the US may rank low (relatively speaking) in most of these lists when compared with all other countries, how does it compare when ranked against each other country individually, all things considered? I'm thinking that it will do OK.

[exploited]

Who cares if you aren't the best? America is still a great place to live, with lots of potential for growth. Nothing wrong with that.

[Indy]

Lots of potential for growth... for whom? Poor people? Oh they need an education one might say. So all those college students out there--how's that job market goin'? As you're buried under debt from your student loans?

The problem here is that we refuse to acknowledge our problems, so they are never addressed. Instead we chase around idiotic, phantom problems like abortion or black people or socialism or a War on Christmas--and elect people who swear to deal with those.

[PoS]

[Winchester]

[Indy]

The point is we're moving backward. Not a great trajectory for the greatest nation on Earth.