USA # 1!!!...Not.

[masmdu]

Interesting Article about Nationalistic Delusion of "USA #1"-ers.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A255074

No concept lies more firmly embedded in our national character than the notion that the USA is "No. 1," "the greatest." Our broadcast media are, in essence, continuous advertisements for the brand name "America Is No. 1." Any office seeker saying otherwise would be committing political suicide. In fact, anyone saying otherwise will be labeled "un-American." We're an "empire," ain't we? Sure we are. An empire without a manufacturing base. An empire that must borrow $2 billion a day from its competitors in order to function. Yet the delusion is ineradicable. We're No. 1. Well ... this is the country you really live in:

• The United States is 49th in the world in literacy (The New York Times, Dec. 12, 2004).

• The United States ranked 28th out of 40 countries in mathematical literacy (NYT, Dec. 12, 2004).

• One-third of our science teachers and one-half of our math teachers did not major in those subjects. (Quoted on The West Wing, but you can trust it – their researchers are legendary.)

• Twenty percent of Americans think the sun orbits the Earth. Seventeen percent believe the Earth revolves around the sun once a day (The Week, Jan. 7, 2005).

• "The International Adult Literacy Survey ... found that Americans with less than nine years of education 'score worse than virtually all of the other countries'" (Jeremy Rifkin's superbly documented book The European Dream

: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream, p.78).
• Our workers are so ignorant, and lack so many basic skills, that American businesses spend $30 billion a year on remedial training (NYT, Dec. 12, 2004). No wonder they relocate elsewhere!


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[NoodleBoy]

1. then, we have our work cut out for us

which means, don't stop volunteering just because we control congress now, get involved in local politics as much as and as soon as you can.

[rock]

2. "28th out of 40 countries in mathematical literacy "

Well, that's 14 countries we're ahead of.

[pdxprog]

4. Or is that 15?

Math is haaaaaaard....
:dunce:

[rock]

7. Just plain arithmetic is haaaaard!

Welcome aboard.

[tavalon]

10. Snort!

Good one!

[mark414]

3. but we have american idol!

...though even that wasn't our idea

we're a nation of proud morons

i still love this place though

[BlueEyedSon]

5. Bill Maher says

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfR54fs26c8

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Oh, my. I'm sure the RW will label this guy 'un-American' very soon!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. See:Randy Newman_A Few Words in Defense of the Country

Our empire is declining:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OldToIF5ZGs

[Solon]

9. We are NUMBER 1 dammit!

In prisoners per capita:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita

[agincourt]

11. Well this explains at least,

How the GOP can still get votes.

[spoony]

12. "No wonder they relocate elsewhere!"

Nice anti-worker rhetoric :eyes:

Those poor, poor corporations, being forced into outsourcing by the greedy ignorant workers!

[Doondoo]

13. K&R