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Do Americans think they are better than anyone else?

Recently in the republican leadership debate a sinister theme seems to be emerging. Namely, that Obama is portraying the USA as a country that is the peer of other countries. This seems to rankle many republicans who seem to suggest America is inherently superior. Do ordinary Americans really believe that, and do they fear that because China will overtake the USA one day militarily and economically that this will challenge US concepts of their superiority?

PS I would much rather live in a world where America was the leading superpower than China was, but that doesn't address the question about the apparent American superiority complex.

Update:

PS. I've lived all over the world, including the USA, and it has a lot going for it but apart from expense of healthcare and expenditure on the military, I wouldn't put it above some of the other places I've lived. Retail is good but no better than the UK, climate sucks compared to countries round the Med, healthcare is better in most places I've lived than the USA... as is public safety, public transport, cleanliness of public areas and quality of life. Per capita GDP is high in the USA, but many countries are higher and achieve it with less inequality. American movies are good, so is a lot of popular music. Freedom in the USA is more abstract and compares poorly with the genuine, practical levels of freedom Europeans enjoy. I've got to think it mostly comes down to pride in military superiority or is misplaced. Would that be a fair assumption?

12 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    It's PROPAGANDA, they're brainwashing the public by repeating the same rhetoric.

    The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, they're not free. Keep the sheep brainwashed and they won't act out.

    They need to get a grip on REALITY and stop letting their govt. get away with taking their freedoms away (Patriot Act) and bombing millions of innocent people in the Middle East.

    The military is nothing to be proud of. Other than WW2 they have not had a legit reason to attack another nation. USA = Biggest terrorist nation on the planet.

    Hollywoold and shitty music that only talk about sex and money are used as a distraction from the real issues.

    Also, countries like Canada and Australia have the best cities in the world to live in.

  • Pax
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Quote:

    "our way of life and the freedom/that is better" (Noonelse)

    American dudes like Noonelse believe USA is the only country in the world that has freedom.

    As if Brazilians, Italians, Mexicans, Germans, British, French... were slaves.

    Even worst, USA has no free healthcare, so Americans have freedom since they have money enouth to live.

    But 12% of Americans live under the poverty line.

    Democracy? Only two polical parties running the elections?

    In democracies like Brazil people have several polical parties (a lot of choices to vote).

    Less than 50% of adult Americans vote for president.

    In Brazil, almost 100% of adult population vote for president.

    USA have the worst HIV/Aids prevalence rate of the American Continent.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:People_living_wi...

  • 4 years ago

    I dont think of all individuals have that view yet perhaps many of the yankee governments do. there is often this theory that they have the stunning concept and that they are the stunning and creative variety that something of the international would desire to stay with and to apply stress if needed. pass in with the thinking that once a US invasion, they are going to be welcomed as liberators and this isnt constrained basically to Iraq...Vietnam, Bay of Pigs etc. there is an severe tendency to forget the negatives of yankee historic previous and to stress on the positives i.e. what replaced into achieved to the natives, that in spite of the promise of freedom a huge inhabitants replaced into extra to US by utilising skill of slavery etc. and there is an enormous quantity of patriotism which looks to me to basically sell the present view and to be illiberal of the rest. no person recollects the "freedom fries" bit? Freedom of speech and opinion and all yet purely dont be serious of the present government. talk approximately exams and balances.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Many Americans do believe this unfortunately. Have you not seen or heard of the "we're number one" foam fingers? Also, when Obama went and visited various countries, many conservatives were angry at him for what they interpreted as him "apologizing" for the errors that the US had taken part in during the Bush administration. That told me a lot about the blind pride and arrogance of many American citizens, as though the US was perfect and that it "could do no wrong."

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    That's because of the americanisation .Most of the the brands, the celebrities, the fast-food etc...are from America so that's why -I think- they believe they are superior to the rest of the world.

    Americans are very patriotic

  • 1 decade ago

    this is due to hangover of the past . The glory of past is wearing out fast and at the present rate they would descend to lower rungs .

    every civilisation has rise and fall

    today chinese and indians live in past glory of perceived glory

  • 1 decade ago

    To foreigners, yes, americans think they are better than us. But this is most likely due to stereotypes.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Wrong. Americans think they and other whites elsewhere are better. White supremacists.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    you're referring to America (a place, home to many different people) and attributing to it a personality disorder. ill stop and let you think about all the reasons why this is wrong.

    Source(s): don't generalize people and make assumptions about them just because you've traveled.
  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Yeah they do and they think that other nations worship the US.

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