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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.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday June 23 2017, @10:34AM (39 children)
Pssst, muslim is a choice. As are gay and poor.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Informative) by FatPhil on Friday June 23 2017, @10:43AM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @11:08AM (19 children)
In many cases and in many places including the UK, Aus and the US, leaving islam carries the penalty of death, or worse (usually involving acid).
Sure, they have a choice. Live in pain or worse for life or die. Not much of a choice.
They don't give 8yo girls any choice in the wearing of a head scarf to "honour allah". How does a child refuse?
Try again.
(Score: 4, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday June 23 2017, @11:26AM (17 children)
My cowardly comrade, if you aren't willing to put your life on the line for your convictions, you don't have any convictions.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Kell on Friday June 23 2017, @02:31PM (8 children)
Or perhaps there is more benefit to living to make affect change, than making a hollow and ultimately futile point? The smart person works within a system to shape and direct it, rather than raging against a force beyond their ability to overcome in a petulant display of pique. That's why I respect reformers and leaders more than matyrs - it takes time to turn the tide of whole society, but when you do it is longer lasting and more effective.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday June 23 2017, @06:14PM
Martyrs are an essential element. Without them, reformers and leaders have no touchstone.
Smart people work within systems all the time thinking that's the way to effect change, but what mostly happens is they get tripped up and cut down and discouraged in a thousand ways. Without martyrs or other figures who cut through the crap, those smart people lose their writ to shut the avatars of the status quo the hell up.
That said, martyrs alone don't make for lasting change either. Jesus would have existed without Paul, but without Paul there would have been no Christianity.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday June 23 2017, @11:23PM
Oh I dunno, if he wants to kill himself to make a point, I say we let him :D Free country and all that. Of course he may have been including himself in that group of people who don't have any convictions...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday June 24 2017, @10:47PM (5 children)
Knuckling under isn't living to make/affect change. I'll note that for many of these sorts of ideologies, you have to go out of your way to belong. You have to ignore a lot of the modern world, like in the case of Islam why Allah would permit the heathen, decadent US to be better off than your Islamic paradise. You have to wear some pretty substantial blinders.
(Score: 2) by Kell on Sunday June 25 2017, @02:22AM (4 children)
I didn't say "knuckle under", I said live to make change. If putting on a burka in ISIS controlled territory keeps you alive long enough to get out or to raise your kids to not be murderers, then it's worth it. Going out in a singular blaze of glory prohibits any further actions after that point. Even small changes can add up over a long time - it's the integral under the curve that counts.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday June 25 2017, @04:33AM (3 children)
Except when those small changes don't actually happen.
(Score: 2) by Kell on Sunday June 25 2017, @03:37PM (2 children)
Then why not be that person? Be the change you want to see in the world.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday June 26 2017, @12:31AM (1 child)
I believe I am.
(Score: 2) by Kell on Monday June 26 2017, @04:14AM
Excellent! I think we both agree you're doing more good that way than by being a martyr. I would miss you. :)
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 1) by i286NiNJA on Friday June 23 2017, @04:16PM (1 child)
Really? Please tell us of your adventures in the military buzzy.. also I'm sure you've never backed down from a fight in your life.
You're so full of shit if there was any truth to what you're saying you'd be dead by now. But it sounds cool right?
(Score: 3, Touché) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday June 23 2017, @05:25PM
Can't say as I remember ever doing so, no. Lost a few though.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @05:16PM
Yeah those 8 year olds ought to be ashamed that there not willing to put there life on the line to stand up for your version of freedom, Freedom!, FREEDOM!
can't... stop... eyes... from... rolling.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @11:13PM (4 children)
I call your bluff. Video of your supposed "convictions" or you're just another hypocritical keyboard warrior.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday June 24 2017, @12:56AM (3 children)
I could post my DD-214, I suppose, but I'm not going to. I have no need to prove my convictions to you. I've proven them to myself since before I could buy my own smokes. Your opinion is irrelevant.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1) by i286NiNJA on Monday June 26 2017, @06:16PM (2 children)
Why don't you tell us what your branch and MOS was. I think that'd be a good start.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday June 27 2017, @10:54AM (1 child)
Army, 52C. Yeah, it's not glamorous but it got me a good paying job right out of service.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1) by i286NiNJA on Wednesday June 28 2017, @04:06PM
welp I wasn't expecting a believable answer but I guess at least you served.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday June 23 2017, @09:12PM
> They don't give 8yo girls any choice in the wearing of a head scarf to "honour allah". How does a child refuse?
They don't give baby boys any choice in keeping their foreskins. How does a newborn refuse?
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday June 23 2017, @06:01PM (13 children)
Gay is not a choice. If it were, *every woman on the planet would be a lesbian.* The fact that, what, 97% of us still like men and only men despite the utter shit we've had since before humanity even figured out farming is the single strongest possible argument that we don't choose what we are.
Know what it mean when a guy tells you "gay is a choice?" He's bisexual and repressing it. It's only a "choice" if you swing both ways. Thanks for revealing what I've suspected about you since the start.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday June 23 2017, @08:30PM (3 children)
Yeah, you lot keep saying that... Doesn't make it true though. I know at least one gay man who sucks cock simply because it was the preferable choice to putting up with "insane female bullshit".
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday June 23 2017, @08:48PM (2 children)
That is a bisexual. That is a prime example of what I'm talking about. He admits that he *could* be with a woman, but since he has the choice, he goes with another man because "hurr hurr womens' bullshit."
My girlfriend is similar: she likes men and women sexually, but *chooses* exclusively to be with women because of a disdain for mens' bullshit. See how that works?
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday June 24 2017, @12:37AM (1 child)
I only see that you're trying to be special when you're not.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday June 24 2017, @02:34AM
Oh, don't worry, sweetie, I know I'll never be "special" like you. That's a good thing, though; I imagine it must get really tiresome needing to drag that ramp and helmet everywhere, right, Chief Shitting Bull?
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @09:10PM (6 children)
I find it weird that despite all the bluster you flap on about, you still use an accusation of someone being gay, as an insult and a weapon.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday June 23 2017, @09:25PM (5 children)
To a macho moron like Uzzard there, it *is* an insult. That's the point. *I* am gay, have you forgotten? But it's not an insult to me. Do you see how this works? Context, context!
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday June 24 2017, @12:42AM (4 children)
S'not an insult to me either. Just gets you a funny look like calling me asian or black would.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday June 24 2017, @02:43AM (3 children)
Nonsense, no one would mistake you for black or any kind of Asian. Those simply would not happen. But damn if you aren't banging on some glass closet doors...it's okay, Uzzard, Let It Go, as the most popular coming-out song of the decade says.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday June 24 2017, @08:34AM (2 children)
Fine, I admit it. I'm a lesbian. I was just born the wrong gender and have to lug around a cock n balls while being so.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday June 24 2017, @10:51PM
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday June 25 2017, @03:01AM
Good grief, are you even trying anymore? This is actually getting boring. Though if you want the meat and two veg sliced off, have at it; i can't see any possible downside to you not being able to reproduce.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @11:42PM (1 child)
Of course it is a choice. You can choose not to be Gay same as I can choose not to be a murderer. If you are attracted to men as a man, and don't fuck men, then you are not gay.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday June 24 2017, @12:08AM
What? I'd still be a lesbian even if I were utterly celibate. Sexual orientationis about who you love and who you want to fuck, not what you do. Are you saying that someone who never has sex due to, for example, not being able to find a partner is actually asexual, even though they want to?
You don't seem to know what words mean.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @06:25PM (3 children)
This comment is why I don't feel bad about not renewing my subscription.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday June 23 2017, @08:22PM (2 children)
Good deal. We prefer those who can handle contrary points of view around here. This is no place for snowflakes.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday June 23 2017, @09:14PM (1 child)
It is a boring world, the one where one is totally protected from all trolls.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday June 24 2017, @12:43AM
Yup. Thinking that is a good idea will end with book burnings and reeducation camps.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.