America: The “Greatest” Country in the World

Photo: NYT

In America, we are often told that we are living in the best country in the world and nobody comes close to us. Our patriotism often times blinds us when looking at what truly makes a country great. Qualities such as access to healthcare and education, economic freedom, and more are the true characteristics of a great country. Unfortunately, America is not the best in any of these.

The BAV Group, a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania conducted a study to determine the quality of life in 73 countries. The used 75 metrics including, broad access to food and housing, quality education, health care, job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.

· They ranked the US as 15th in overall quality of life out of the 73 countries

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a study of 15-year-old students’ performance in reading, mathematics, and science literacy conducted every 3 years. It is comprised of almost 80 countries. The following are the US scores from 2018.

· 37th in math

· 18th in science

· 13th in reading literacy

MLA has the US ranked at 23rd in reading literacy according to various international reading literacy assessments.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a group of 35 countries that’s mission is to promote economic development and social well-being of people worldwide. The released rankings of these countries on infant mortality, maternal mortality, and more. America was ranked as the following:

· 29th in infant mortality

· 26th in life expectancy

· 1st in health expenditures

Their rankings are, again, only featuring 35 countries. America spends the most on healthcare (presumably because of their for-profit healthcare system and pharmaceutical industry), yet they rank in the lowest section in actual health.

CIA statistics on the US compared to countries worldwide:

· 43rd in life expectancy

· 55th in maternal mortality rate

· 12th in obesity

· 54th in infant mortality rate

· 1st in oil imports

· 1st in oil production

· 1st in Refined petroleum products – production, consumption, exports

· 1st in natural gas – consumption, production

We use the most fossil fuels which are proven to cause irreputable harm to the earth. Almost all scientists agree that fossil fuels are a leading cause in climate change but the US continues to use it at huge rates. The current leadership in the country also refuses to believe that climate change even exists, calling it a “hoax” – just like Covid-19.

America also is 1st in military spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined. Truly, a waste of taxpayers’ money. I mean no disrespect to anyone that has served in the military, I just feel as though spending more than the next 26 countries combined feels a bit excessive when that money could be put into education, healthcare, etc.

America is by no means the best. There is just no proof that America is the greatest country.