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America Is Now a ‘Second Tier’ Country

posted by mrpg on Friday June 23 2017, @01:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the you-mean-the-whole-continent?!?! dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

America leads the world when it comes to access to higher education. But when it comes to health, environmental protection, and fighting discrimination, it trails many other developed countries, according to the Social Progress Imperative, a U.S.-based nonprofit.

The results of the group's annual survey, which ranks nations based on 50 metrics, call to mind other reviews of national well-being, such as the World Happiness Report released in March, which was led by Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, or September's Lancet study on sustainable development. In that one, Iceland, Singapore, Sweden, and the U.S. took spots 1, 2, 3, and 28—respectively. 

The Social Progress Index released this week is compiled from social and environmental data that come as close as possible to revealing how people live. "We want to measure a country's health and wellness achieved, not how much effort is expended, nor how much the country spends on healthcare," the report states. Scandinavia walked away with the top four of 128 slots. Denmark scored the highest. America came in at 18. 

The Social Progress Index gives the US poor marks. America may, however, still lead the world in funny cat videos.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by jelizondo on Friday June 23 2017, @04:38AM (4 children)

    by jelizondo (653) Subscriber Badge on Friday June 23 2017, @04:38AM (#529833) Journal

    Since you appear to have researched this thoroughly, tell me what has been wrong with Switzerland in the past 200 years; just don’t tell me about them being the bankers for Nazis, they have been the bankers for everyone regardless of politics, human rights and other considerations, including many American citizens.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @06:18AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @06:18AM (#529872)

    Amen.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy#Switzerland [wikipedia.org]

    -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @11:31AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @11:31AM (#529975)

    Being smug fucks back in the crack does not make them good citizens of the world.

  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday June 23 2017, @06:27PM (1 child)

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Friday June 23 2017, @06:27PM (#530142) Journal

    I'll take a stab at it. Women did not have the right to vote everywhere in Switzerland until 1991. There's also the "Schnueffelstaat [wikipedia.org]." It doesn't seem so shocking now post-Snowden but in 1989 when it came out it was quite the scandal.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.

    • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday June 23 2017, @06:30PM

      by Phoenix666 (552) on Friday June 23 2017, @06:30PM (#530146) Journal

      I forgot the worst thing about Switzerland: the yodeling. Dear God, the yodeling...

      --
      Washington DC delenda est.