For a Given Definition of “Exceptional,” Part II
Among neoconservatives, there is a movement to characterize the United States as “exceptional.” We are different. We are special. With an emphasis on its divine origin (Christian gods only need apply). In a series or irregular posts, WC is examining the credibility of this claim. WC has already discussed our crime and prison rates. Today, we’ll look at eight categories in comparison to other advanced countries.
There’s not much to add to this chart, except that WC urges you to study it carefully:
Maybe Not So Exceptional?
WC freely grants that there are a lot of ways to measure the good aspects and the bad aspects of a country. But the mighty United States finished 33rd out of 33 among a broad selection of advanced economies.
New York Times columnist Charles Blow said, “At the very time that many Americans — and the very country itself — are struggling to emerge from a very deep hole, the Republican proposal would simply throw the dirt in on top of us.”
A positive definition of “exceptional” does seem to be getting strained.
I have attributed some of the feelings of American exceptionalism to our insularity and parochialism, which continues even into the information age. We don’t seem to see how much progress has been made in other parts of the world. (It isn’t so much that the US has declined, or even failed to advance–it is that the US has advanced at a pronouncedly slower rate than much of the rest of the world. Over time, this adds up.)
However, look at our next door neighbor, Canada, right there near the top of the charts. Surely we must be exposed to how much better Canada does than us, how much more pleasant it is to live there (especially in the cities–those remarkably beautiful Canadian cities.) Canada has done well for many decades, but since 2008, they have done extremely well relative to the US, for reason of not having followed the US in dismantling their financial regulatory systems. From now moving forward we may see a disparity between the US and Canada similar to the one we’ve seen between the US and Mexico.
zoussef
March 2, 2011 at 9:08 am
Zoussef, can you point to any recent books or even articles comparing Canada’s last decade with the U.S.’s. WC is looking for scholarship here, not a blogger’s unsupported ramblings.
Thanks.
/WC
Wickersham's Conscience
March 2, 2011 at 9:39 am
WC
It would be most un-Canadian for Canada to compare itself to another to the other’s disadvantage. It’s notably exceptional in its modesty.
Paul Eaglin
Fairbanks
paul2eaglin
March 2, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Greetings WC-
Are you searching for an answer that can be substantiated? Saying an entire Country is the ‘greatest’ means absolutely nothing. Sure, we are exceptional at some things, but we are utter failures at others. Even direct comparisons fall apart quickly because the ‘grading criteria’ are completely subjective. Your chart shows but a handful of ‘criteria’. One could easily make the argument that since Canada has no ‘Miranda’ rights that fact negatively outweighs our financial system disadvantage. That is of course Apples to Oranges. But even Apples to Apples are all but impossible to quantify – In Canada you can own plenty of guns, just not the same KIND as in America. Does that make America better – or score higher in some scale of greatness. Nope, technically not one bit. You can judge high school drop out rates and such on a pretty even field where everyone would agree that higher graduation is better. But again, it all depends on the actual education achieved by the student.
So if you want to get to the heart of the matter. Then the only criteria which can be directly compared is ‘wellness’ or happiness. But this is where social conditioning comes in to wreck the party. And coincidently why ‘A Brave New World’ is my favorite book. Like the bumper sticker says WC – The secret to having it all is believing that you do. I understand that Belief and its cousin Faith are no where to be found in a Black’s Law Dictionary. But in everyday life, they do come in handy once in a while.
mrderik
March 2, 2011 at 8:18 pm
The combination of examining that chart and having watched last night 2010′s “Waiting For Superman” has got me really upset about thinking of the prospects for the near-term future of this country.
alaskaranger
March 3, 2011 at 10:08 am
“Waiting for Superman” at least holds out a solution, or claim of solution. Most of the problems described in the chart WC posted yesterday haven’t been addressed, or recent legislative actions have exacerbated, not solved, those problems. For example, the extension of the tax cuts for the very wealthy has exacerbated income disparity.
Wickersham's Conscience
March 3, 2011 at 10:16 am
Zoussef, can you point to any recent books or even articles comparing Canada’s last decade with the U.S.’s. WC is looking for scholarship here, not a blogger’s unsupported ramblings.
I’m not sure what you’re asking for here, or why your comment arises. There’s no dearth of economic or sociological data for either country, whether it is collected into “books or articles” or not. Is it doubtful the US has slipped compared to Canada?
I could make a graph of any of the indicators from the NYT-compiled chart (income inequality, unemployment rate, life expectancy, etc.) over time(year to year, decade to decade, or whatever) to show relative increases or decreases, and increasing or decreasing disparities between the US and Canada. Is that what you are looking for?
My reason for bringing up Canada was only that Canada, our next door neighbor, should pose an accessible, empirical challenge to US citizens’ prejudice “we’re number one! we always have been and always will be!” How many of us have been to visit Niagra Falls and been exposed to what Buffalo, New York is like compared to Toronto, Ontario? The last time I was in Buffalo to view the falls (1999), I was impressed by the fact that all of the public facilities on the US side were the ones I remembered from boyhood days in the ’60′s, serviceable but rundown. Toronto side has an immaculate, world-class park-like quality.
Are firsthand accounts entirely unsubstantiated, without value? Do I ramble in bringing mine up?
zoussef
March 3, 2011 at 11:23 am
>For example, the extension of the tax cuts for the very wealthy has exacerbated income disparity.
Wow – That’s about as anecdotal as the chart itself. Just who’s money do you think it is anyway? Everyones? No, it’s the person / corporation’s who earns it. Now, we can talk about unfair advantage and subsidies all day long and I’d likely agree with you. But, to tax wealthy / successful people a higher rate solely for the sake of giving it to someone else is not right by any measure of fairness, let alone democracy. So you can whine all day long about income disparity – and I don’t like it any more than you do. But you know how to solve that? Don’t support the people / companies who have all the money! Plain and simple. No one is forcing you to have an account at Goldman so Blankfein can amass a personal fortune in the Billions.
And for the record, I don’t recall WC making any cogent argument as to why the ‘wealthy’ SHOULD pay any greater percent that anyone else. And if you even hint at ‘Historical norm’ you know as well as anyone that is anecdotal evidence, at best. So go ahead WC make your case for why any individuals or companies should pay a greater percent in taxes than anyone else. Enlighten me…..
mrderik
March 3, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Implicit in your comment is the assumption that the very wealthy pay the same rate of tax as those of more modest means. The assumption is false. The very wealthy pay little tax or no tax at all. It’s much easier to hide income under the Internal Revenue Code if you have lots of it. It’s the poor slob without itemized deductions who gets fleeced. The Internal Revenue Code is rigged.
Wickersham's Conscience
March 3, 2011 at 8:09 pm
>The very wealthy pay little tax or no tax at all.
The evidence for this is pretty thin, but I would not refute that statement in relation to Income Tax. They do however pay a commensurate amount of property tax, luxury tax, electricity/fuel/energy tax, licensing tax and all the other (hidden/mislabeled) taxes that go along with everyday living.
>The Internal Revenue Code is rigged.
100% Agreed – So let’s fix the code, first, then talk about rates and who pays (or doesn’t pay) how much.
mrderik
March 4, 2011 at 6:18 am