I tend to keep my mouth shut when politics become the topic of conversation. This is because I generally don’t feel educated on the matters.
I care about my family and fellow humans and want everyone to live their ideal lives. However, from a political science standpoint, I don’t know how to make those dreams realities.
How should a government be structured? How much influence should it have? What laws should be in place?
As the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, I seriously questioned if America was the right place for my family and me. But what countries are getting things right? And what, indeed, is America getting wrong?
What’s Out There?
I’ve talked about weather, finances, and education in other posts about possible places to live. But I never considered how other nations may treat each other or how the majority feels about important issues.
A site like freedomhouse.org shows America is 60th in its “global freedom score.” The score grades “political rights” and “civil liberties.”
Looking at the Human Development Index, you will find America in 17th place.
You can head over to usnews.com (yes, the US, as in the United States of America) and see how the USA ranks 19 of 78 countries for “social purpose” (progressive, inclusive, and committed to social justice). The USA is also 20th in “quality of life” and 22nd in “raising a family.” The USA finished sixth overall in the rankings, but you may weigh the factors differently than they did.
On the Legatum Prosperity Index, America is in 20th place.
Where is America First?
Let’s throw America under the bus. America is first in…
- Incarceration Rate (Take that, Rwanda!)
- Guns Per Capita (More than one per person!)
- Military Arms Exports
- Fewest Paid Weeks of Time Off For New Parents (ZERO)
- Watching TV
- Obese Country Over 5 Million Population
Who is Number One?
We’ll look deeper at what countries may be the best places to live. What are their positives and negatives?
