Good, but not the Best

Is America an exceptional country?

How do others view America? 

Everyone wants to live in America. People from all around the world dream of coming to the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Here, they will have an opportunity to build the foundation to a prosperous life for themselves and for generations that follow. This life that is built will presumably be a higher quality and more supportive lifestyle that one used to pursue. People believe that in America, there is not a worry about their religious beliefs, that no one can persecute them for differing view. People believe that there will not be judgement based on outwardly appearance or personal ideas, and they are right, in America, everyone fights for their freedoms and violations are taken seriously. That, however, does not make America the most exceptional country in the world. In reality, America has been lagging in its efforts to stay on top in categories such as education, economy and welfare. In each of these categories, the country has previously been top-ranked, while recently, the rankings have dropped.

There are excellent secondary education schools in the United States, some internationally ranked, but the overall results from our education systems do not compare to the results shown by other countries. It would seem that in such an education oriented country, the education system would be top notch and encompass all students. Out of the world, the United States are ranked 14th in reading, 17th in science and 25th in math (USA Today). Countries like Singapore, Finland and Canada consistently score higher than the United States because their students tend to be more well-rounded. America's issue is the diverse range of students and the education system's inability to cover the needs of poverty-stricken students. The United States has the largest number of impoverished students (The Washington Post) but that means that the country has to come up with an administrative idea that encompasses those students. Without changes, America will continue to lag behind in their education. 

As noticeable from the recent Presidential campaigning, America's economy is at a low point because of the national debt and high unemployment rate. There was a time when the United States held the number one ranking for their economy, but that time is in the past. The country now holds the 10th spot for economic freedom score, which includes factors such as rule of law, regulatory efficiency and government spending (The Heritage Foundation). In this economical state, it is hard for the common person to get hired for a new job or even sustain the one they currently hold. Even college graduates have trouble obtaining a job during these difficult economic times, and they have had one of the highest forms of education the United States offers. There has to be important decisions made to determine the best ways to spend and collect money, otherwise the country’s economy will continue tanking. Although America may have been outstanding in its economic policies in previous years, the state of the present economy does not compare and is not exceptional. 

As a result of the economic issue, the welfare of American lives has decreased despite the beliefs of the “American Dream”. Anyone who dreams of living in America dreams of a white house with a swimming pool in the backyard and a country club next door. The reality is that 46.2 million Americans are living under the official poverty line and 21.7% of American students are part of that 46.2 million (The New York Times).The middle class has been in distress as the unemployment rates have dropped and people are unable to make enough money to support families or themselves. There is a growing gap between the upper class and lower class, simply because the rich are rich enough to not be affected by the recession and the poor are too poor to do anything about it. Even though people think Americans live the perfect life, especially in these times, its far from perfect.

Needless to say, America is a proud country. During the 2012 London Olympics, many Americans stared at the television, cheering for every Olympic win. When an American athlete won in an event, it was not just the athlete that won, all of America won. This ambitiousness and belief that the nation is worthy of being on top the American people show can be used to boost the country to an international high. Especially with the presidential election this year, it is evident that people are trying to create a better country, trying to boost America to live up to the expectations of its citizens and supporters. Although clearly not the most exceptional country in the world, America is still an excellent country with valid attributes that attract the attention of foreigners. Based on high rate of immigration despite the lagging aspects of the country, education, economy and welfare, it is clear those are not the characteristics others look for in America. The appeal is the freedom to express oneself in every way, the opportunities that await them in this great country, and the hope of creating a better future.

USA Today: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-12-07-us-students-international-ranking_N.htm

The Washington Post:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/back-to-school-rethinking-americas-global-education-rankings/2012/08/27/af11b510-f06e-11e1-ba17-c7bb037a1d5b_blog.html

The Heritage Foundation: http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates

The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/us/14census.html?pagewanted=all