Recently I’ve been seeing, as a response from Right White party followers to any criticisms of the political direction in the United States today, the following:
“This is the greatest country in the world! If you don’t like it here, find somewhere better.”
Having been born and raised in this country, and because I am every bit as American as these Right White individuals, I call out their response as rude. I believe it is inspired by high profile media types (you know who they are), whose penchants for willful ignorance are liberally self-indulged.
However, in an exercise for rebuttal preparation (that turned into a window for self-directed education), I did some research. I first looked for the things that are most important to American voters. I used those as the criteria for comparisons between the United States and other countries around the world to measure if we really are ‘the greatest.’
According to the most recent Quinnipiac University Poll (June 27-July 1, 2018), American voters’ top priorities are:
- Immigration 27%
- The Economy 23%
- Health Care 22%
- Gun Policy 13%
- Taxes 9%
- Other/No Answer 7%
Notably absent from the list of things that matter is ‘National Security,’ despite Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats’ red flag warning going into the mid-term elections.
Here are the results of my research. The data shows our ranking compared to the countries in the rest of the world on the topics identified as those things that matter most to American voters.
1, Immigration
The United States resettles more refugees than any other country in the world (about 33,000 in 2017). Canada resettled 27,000 and Australia, 15,000. However, when we consider resettlement numbers compared to numbers of citizens, we see that the United States is not in first position. Rather, we are #29 from the top (resettling the most immigrants), and #40 from the bottom (resettling the fewest immigrants).
Wikipedia estimates for 2017 for the number of immigrants to countries around the world shows the immigration rate in the United States per thousand US citizens is 3.9. The highest number of migrants per thousand citizens is the British Virgin Islands, at 16.5. Luxembourg, at 15.5, is next highest. The list includes countries where people are fleeing, also. Lebanon, near the bottom of the list, lost 20.2 people per thousand citizens in 2017. Of the countries that are gaining population through immigration, Slovakia’s rate is lowest, gaining 0.1 immigrants per thousand. Rwanda and Angola are gaining 0.2 people per thousand citizens from immigration.
When considering the way immigrants are treated upon entry to their chosen homelands, Sweden ranks Number 1 according to the US New and World Report. The United States ranked #7 at the time of the study, however that was before the advent of children in cages. Tunisia, Guatemala and Kenya complete the list at 78, 79 and 80, respectively.
2. The Economy
By several measures the United States is not numero uno where the economy is concerned. When we look at the share of Public Wealth related to overall National Income, we actually rate worst according to the World Inequality Lab.
The value of all the things that comprise our public wealth – transit systems, infrastructure, airports, education and healthcare systems, police and fire safety systems, public utility systems – has declined by more than 20% since 1978. The value of public wealth in Norway has increased by close to 26% (from 32% to 58%). In this regard, Norway is #1.
When we combine private wealth and public wealth in relation to national income ratios, the US is #5 (Spain, UK, Japan and France are ahead), and in net national wealth, we rank #8.
Where we are number one is in the top 10 percent share of personal wealth. The top ten percent controls 80 percent of US wealth. and the top 1 percent controls nearly 50% of all national wealth. The top 0.1% control nearly 25% of all national wealth.
Since 1980, the share of the top 1% of national wealth has been steadily rising, while the share of the bottom 50% has been falling. Top 1% of earners have 21% of national income. Bottom 50% earn 12% of national income. In 1996, each group were equal at 15% of national income, and in 1962, the bottom 50% earned more than the top 1%; 19% for the bottom 50%, and 12% for top 1%.
Personal wealth calculations include real estate, equities and bonds, and business assets. The bottom 90% enjoyed 25% of national wealth on average in the years 1950 to 1985. In 2015, the percent of national wealth held by the bottom 90% had declined to 7%.
Share of wealth in France, the UK are better. The top 1% are losing share of national wealth and the bottom 90% are gaining share of national wealth. In other words, the middle class is growing, which economists agree is the necessary ingredient for a healthy economy.
In terms of Economic Freedom, the Heritage Organization Index of Economic Freedom rates the United States as #18. This ranking includes criteria such as property rights; government integrity; judicial effectiveness; government spending; tax burden; fiscal health; business, labor and monetary freedoms; trade, investment and financial freedoms. Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand are the top three.
Americans will certainly include employment rate when considering the economy. The United States ranks #18 worldwide by employing 69.4% of working age adults (16-64). The frontrunner is Iceland, where the employment rate is 86.3%. Switzerland is next, with a rate of 79.6%.
3. Health Care
The World Health Organization ranks the United States health care systems at #37. Our friends to the north, the Canadians, rank at #30, so when we make comparisons to Canada, although it is better, it is not one of the best practices systems in the world. The WHO top ten are:
1 France
2 Italy
3 San Marino
4 Andorra
5 Malta
6 Singapore
7 Spain
8 Oman
9 Austria
10 Japan
As we look to improve our own health care systems, perhaps we should look at those who are doing it best.
4. Gun Policy
For every 100 people in the United States, 89 guns are owned. This number is the national average from the Small Arms Survey in 2007, and this is where we are Number 1. Compare that with Sweden, where 32 guns are owned per 100 people; or compare with Singapore, where one gun is owned per every 200 people.
5. Taxes
Compared to all the countries in the world, the tax revenue in the United States as a percent of gross domestic product (26%) is near the lowest in the world. The average of developed nations is 34%. Those who rank below us are Korea, Ireland, Chile and Mexico.
6. Other
Although voters most recently are not concerned with National Security or Education, I have included our rankings in the world for both:
Our education systems rank #15 in the world according to WorldTop20.org. Number one is Russia, followed by the UK, and Singapore.
The United States expenditures on military account for 34% of all the world’s military spending. In that we rank #1 also, with China in as second, spending 12%, and Russia at #3 with 4.8%. Does all that military spending mean we are the most safe?
Not really, according to the Global Peace Index published by Vision of Humanity. Our Global Peace Index score is #114 out of 163 ranked. Check out the interactive map of the world at http://visionofhumanity.org/indexes/global-peace-index
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So, are we #1? Yes, in per capita guns owned and in $ amounts of military spending. So now I know, when I’m in a situation where someone says, “We’re #1,” exactly what their priorities are, and what they are not.
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It is interesting to note that Singapore has come up more than once in this research. It was #3 in Economic Freedom, #6 in Health Care, and #3 in Education Systems. It’s Global Peace Index Score is 21 out of 163. Perhaps that’s what I should look to when my fellow citizens tell me if I don’t like it here I can go find somewhere better.
Humble Bumblebee 