Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Is America Great?

 Trump is a far-right politician and chauvinistic nationalist. Biden too plays the patriot card also declaring America is the greatest nation in the world. What makes the US so exceptional is that its nationalism and patriotism is shared across the political spectrum. USA Number One is something Republicans and Democrats agree on. In the United States the national anthem is played at every sporting event whereas other countries will play it only on international occasions. 

Americans are proud of their democracy yet they are oblivious to the numerous flaws and faults that are obvious to many observers from other parts of the world. Gerrymandering and voter suppression affect almost every state. 

 Economically, America ranks eighth in GDP per capita. In terms of its Gini coefficient, the indicator of economic inequality, the US ranks 51st – sandwiched between Djibouti (50) and the Ivory Coast (52). Other indicators of development, like corruption (23), education (26) and healthcare (30), the US also scores far below a long list of other countries. 

No wonder Americans are only the 19th happiest people in the world.  

The aspirations of American progressives are for goals long ago achieved by most European countries: free healthcare for all, access to abortion provisions, strict gun laws, affordable education and so on.

Americans have to face reality. The World Socialist Party tells our fellow-workers they are not, and never have been, the greatest country in the world.

No comments: