What makes the USA great? Capitalism, Republicanism or Democracy?

Anger is what has made America great.

 

Freedom of religion.

 

Money

 

Greed, for the lack of a better term, is what makes America great.

 

So you're voting for Capitalism?

 

capitalism all the way. a chance to improve your standing, money, greed! elvis and cadillacs come in a close 2nd and 3rd

 

Democratic institutions.

 

This is too simplistic. When the wishes (as opposed to the rights) of the majority trample on the rights (as opposed to the wishes) of the minority, then it's not true democracy. Democracy implies the continued participation in the political process, which cannot be taken away by simply majority fiat.

Let me illustrate this with a stupid example. Let's say that every white person voted to make black people into slaves. Although that would be majority rule, it would be at best a serious corruption of the ideals of democracy.

Singapore and Commie China have capitalism, and they suck. We liked 18th century British capitalism so much, we freaking threw them off the continent. (Except for Canada, but that doesn't count.)

As for "republic," well, it wasn't called the Union of Soviet Socialist REPUBLICS for nothing.

Oman is right, of course, and the reason he's right is because without the participation of the whole citizenry in the political process, we end up with disenfranchisement, corruption, tyranny, and DC United.

 

Baseball!!

 

Natural resources and a spirit of exploitation

 

The fact that I live here.

 

Define "great."

If great simply means "economically and militarily powerful," then I'd go with capitalism.

If great implies some other mixed components of "The Good," (ie, morality, kindness, justice, etc.) then the question is moot because America has its share of jerks, loons, and heros just like every other nation in the world. And in any case, within America, what's defined as "Good" for some segments of the population would be in contention by other parts.

_________________________

On the other hand, my Arab Muslim friend who just came to the states for the first time last month would say that what makes us "great" is some combination of:
a) ability to form lines, and organization in general
b) charming, kind waitresses
c) administrative people who actually help you when asked
d) cleanliness
e) salt trucks and plows being on the road BEFORE the snow even falls
f) that Ani Difranco can perform a spoken word poem like "Self Evident" and not be thrown in jail

and so on... (I get a kick out of how much he loves it here)

 

All of hte above, and much more.


Alex

 

Natural resources.

 

Its potential.

What makes the USA despised?

Potential unfulfilled, mainly because its bogged down in "isms"...

 

Wow, where did you come up with that definition? Why would moral and economic be linked? Why not "great" in the sense of "might." Or how bout in "beauty." Or "efficiency."

 

Apparently, only a few places.

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/presskit/HDR PR_GEM.pdf

1 Norway
2 Sweden
3 Canada
4 Belgium
5 Australia
6 United States

 

Oh great! and I thought my Norwegian fiance was bossy NOW! Can't wait until we move THERE in May.

Seriously though: I'd have to go with representational government. The fact that it works most of the time is astonishing considering how large the country is and how much could go wrong if all levels of our gov't aren't clicking. Republicans like to yell at Democrats, and Democrats like to yell at Republicans, but it is the balance that these two parties provide through representational government that allows our country to survive and thrive.

 

Natural resources.

 

Natural resources

 

Actually, I think you misread that chart. It puts the U.S. at a Gender Empowerment rank of 11.

The 6th ranking refers to "Human Development," if I'm reading it correctly.

So the answer to NYfutbalfan's original question is, "10 places."

 

> Didn't the USSR, UK, China and other European
> countries have natural resources?

USSR - yes, which is how they went from nothing to a power capable of defeating Germany and challenge the US in such a short time. But they didn't have as much as we did, were not as efficient as we were, and were not able to access outside sources like we did.

China - no

Other european countries - England had coal and once they forced the Church to give up its land they developed the spirit of exploitation to use it and create the industrial revolution. The spread of that to other resource-rich european nations is how they used to be great.