(US) Best:
- First amendment/freedom of speech. I'm a big believer that without control over your own speech, you have control over literally nothing. It is the bedrock upon which every other element of autonomy, freedom, liberty, and independence are held upon. Without it, I likely would have lost (what remains of :P) my sanity long long ago..
- Relative free markets and Capitalism (though has a balance with semi regulation)
- Diversity of opinions, cultures, races, etc. it's a big melting pot where we share and even assimilate each other's cultures on the one hand, though also largely have a unified consensus of relative freedom and classical liberalism. Though unfortunately (& ironically with the Internet and social media which should open minds up *more*), many fall further into their "tribes" and echo chambers, creating more division and separation. Overall though in person there is still thankfully peace and understanding generally speaking.
- Large area geographically and diversity of environments (I'd give this high marks in most video games too lol). I've vacationed in Vegas, Wisconsin, LA, and Key West Florida - and they might as well be different countries based on the dynamics, culture, scenery and general vibe.
- You can work your way from the bottom to the top. While the American Dream has deteriorated somewhat for various reasons over the last century, overall America is a place where you can do and achieve what you want regardless of your upbringing, provided you have enough drive, skill, and influence. Various forces, corruptions, biases and general dysfunction threaten that more these days but it's still at least in-part the land of opportunity.
- Check and balances of power in government (and some state autonomy) - as well as a general fairness, impartiality, and equality of application of the law. Civil rights, personal liberty, and relative equality or "blind justice" when it comes to the court system. In theory no "two or three tiered justice system" - though unfortunately many aspects of these are on a razor's edge and getting rapidly worse. Thankfully, we have tons of complexity, balances, and layers that it keeps things largely in check.
Worst:
- World policing. We've gotten far better about this recently but we still have remnants of that Neocon "Team America" mentality where we feel we must bully other nations to do our bidding, engage in regime change wars, providing billions in financial aid, and generally mettle in the affairs of other nations.
- Many particularly well off people in this country get this sort of vapid, privileged sense of ignorance and superiority. Sort of ties into the first point but more on a social and cultural level. Many here act like we're the center of not only the world, but the universe, and don't bother learning the ways of other nations or cultures, even if they may have something to teach us.
- Crony Corporatism - while I ultimately believe Capitalism is the best system overall, this system, if too unregulated can lead to Crony Corporatism, which can devolve into excess and basically mini Fascist or Socialist dictatorships. For here companies can collude with government (the literal definition of Fascism) and disregard the needs/well being of people, even abusing and exploiting them.
- Often lazy, vapid culture of consumption, consumerism, and celebrity worship. Our middle and upper-middle class is shrinking, and yet we still have 10s of millions still way too fat, content, and lazy essentially. We're becoming more like the movie WALL-E. Even if things get bad or corrupt & ripe for correction or at least introspection, most here tend to sit on their thumbs as long as they have their football, Netflix, and Door Dash.
- Many unhealthy people and much of our food supply sucks - in terms of most of the Western world at least, our food leads the way in terms of junky, fattening, nutrient-lacking crap - what with all the corn syrup, high processing, binders, seed oils, trans fats, lab-produced Frankenfoods. As a result, far more people are sick/fat, a large part of why our healthcare is through the roof. This is improving somewhat but we have a LONG way to go there.
Last edited by DarthMetalliCube - on 30 August 2025