It can't

Jeffrey Sachs's book. It's my recommendation.

This book moved me.

I read it translated into japanese .

https://www.amazon.com/Common-Wealth-Economics-Crowded-Planet/dp/1594201277/ref=la_B001IOFI3Q_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492315459&sr=1-4Jeffr

The question shouldn't be "what can we do to be better than every other country." It should be "what can we do to be better for the world together in a world we all share."

It's the type of mentality that you purpose that is why we are in an all time tension with the rest of the world. Electing Trump was a step backward for America and the world, not a step forward. Everyday this point is being proven without any justifiable counter arguments in sight.

Next time you make a political thread. I suggest you use some form intellect and not some dude bro "I'm better than you" bullshit. That's what's wrong with the world and that's why America is falling behind and it's only going to get worse. Further more I'm going issue an apology if it comes off as if I am attacking you personally. This is not the case, I am just simply annoyed of this mindset and begun to outgrown it. So I repeat this is NOT a personal attack so please do not take it as such.

they don't need to compete, America even with all its flaws is still the gold standard that other countries tries to emulate.

Well of course competition is here to stay. It's human nature and I'm also competitive at times and therefore it's a rhetorical concept. Though there is a clear difference in asking a question that is more selfish in nature and presented in an attitude that the rest of the world is quite frankly sick of. Your final sentence is currently work a look at because it's pretty close to the reality we live in. We indeed to need continue to be better but we need to find solutions for our problems. Not to be better than other nations, but to simply improve upon our own. What another nation does shouldn't be our concern unless they are truly a global threat. An example of this is North Korea, while they have the potential to be a threat. They are simply doing today what we did back in the 60's in the cold war. I don't agree with it but I can see why Kim Jong-Un has too much pride and honor to stop. We literally now have two cry babies threating to bomb each other. No one wants war, but like minded individuals eventually create a reality and Kim Jung-Un and Donald Trump do have compatible minds in terms of how their over inflated ego's work. This is the real danger of our "unhealthy competition". Lives are being taken, children are dying in the streets, and for what? Because of our egos.

At this rate WWIII will be exactly as George Washington envisioned. USA against the entire world. How do you think that will work out for us?

Anyways I'm afraid I went a bit off topic. There are some serious matters you did bring up. Such as education and health care. The problem with those issues is quite simple. Large companies jacking up prices, and a nation who claims to wants free health care but doesn't want to pay taxes for it. The country is split on this issue. People want shit but they don't want to deal with the precautions for it like the rest of the world. As far as education and healthcare is concerned the answer is a very simple "look at the real world and grow the fuck up." That is literally the answer as countries like Canada are far better off. Yes there are waiting lists if you want it for free, you can alternatively pay like you do in the states and get it as soon as you need it. There are options for people and the mass American public needs to start educating themselves on the world outside of them. America will continue it's backwards motion until the people chose to find a solution together and move forward... together. It feels like a series of small progress that gets blocked and no body is going anywhere while the country remains divided in their mindset of where to go next. That is the America we're living in today.

I apologize if I'm taking your intentions and comments the wrong way. The current events with Trump issuing challenges and threats to other nations is far more than what any of us are bargaining for. Lives are literally at stake in his form of "competition" so the word USA and competition is often viewed by many as a very negative thing right now. Twitter has been on full meltdown from it this weekend, which should surprise no one.

21 milion + population doesn't count.

Bolster education and dispel xenophobia. Two of our biggest strengths historically have been pioneering enterprise and importing talent to fuel innovation. We still lead the charge in many industries but it won't last forever if we keep getting dumber and discourage other bright minds from coming to pursue the American Dream. Beyond that of course there's quality of life for the general population to improve; healthcare, the middle class, all the usual talking points. Unfortunately the current administration only seems to be hurting many of these efforts. Hope it's short lived.

US could stop pumping half its budget in the military and start focusing on the problems within its borders.

They can laugh all they want until the Muslims takeover the region. 

And yet Healthcare, Education, Standard of Living, Income Equality and even various indexes like Economic Freedom the USA falls short on.