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USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 1:04:44 PM

joether

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The August 23/30th edition of Newsweek has a whole section devoted to trying to find the 'best' nation in several categories, and an over all 'winner'. I myself an not 'sold' on the article's arguements, in this edition of Newsweek. While they make some good arguements, the information isn't standardized.

The top 10 'Overall Rankin'g (pg 32):

1. Finland
2. Switzerland
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. Luxembourg
6. Norway
7. Canada
8. Netherlands
9. Japan
10. Denmark

So, all the Scandavian countries got in to the top 10. Of course, they do stress MANY factors in this process, and that some figures of one nation are not the same as another. And accurate picture, would be quite hard under normal circumstances.

The publication goes on to give several other lists:

A) Quality of Life [Among Populous Nations] (USA is #2, just after Germany)
B) Economic Dynamism (USA is #2, just after Singapore)
C) Economic Dynamism [Among Poplous Nations-different from above] (USA is #1)
D) Education (conservatives have brought us below #10)
E) Economic Dynamism [Among Low-Income Nations]
F) Education [Among Upper-Middle-Income Countries]
G) Health* H) Overall Ranking [Among Populous Nations-different from above] (USA is #2, just after Japan)

*: Yes, we have to many fat cats in the USA - literally, not figuratively. So we arent in the top 10. I'm sure if we weighed Americans to Chinesse (who have nearly 4x the population) the scales would be about even. West Virginia, it was recently reported by Forbes (I believe thats the source), had 68% of its population as 'overweight' or 'obese'.

So why isn't the USA, in the top 10 overall countries?

Post #: 1

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 1:30:17 PM

subrob1967

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How the fuck can you say, with a straight face, that conservatives screwed education?

Education in this country has been under the control of liberals for over 30 years. If it's not tenured Professors free to preach their crap, it's teacher's unions refusing to fire lousy teachers.

This is just more liberal douchebaggery, from a liberal douchebag source (Newsweek)

< Message edited by subrob1967 -- 8/18/2010 1:31:25 PM >

(in reply to joether)

Post #: 2

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 1:45:38 PM

mnottertail

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And thank god for that, we don't have to fill peoples heads with creationism, or how wrinklemeat singlehandedly destroyed the soviet union, for example.

Notre Dame, BJU, Oral Roberts, Washington and Lee, Liberty, Brigham Young.......as conservative universities go, I would say these would make the list........howz about you?

< Message edited by mnottertail -- 8/18/2010 1:47:01 PM >

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(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 3

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 2:14:27 PM

juliaoceania

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quote:

or how wrinklemeat singlehandedly destroyed the soviet union, for example.

Ha ha

_____________________________

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Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to mnottertail)

Post #: 4

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 2:26:33 PM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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There is a huge variation between inner city- small town.

it really depends.

i am not quick to concede that the US is not tops.

the US is a big place- with many venues. if you cant find it here- there is no where.

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 5

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 4:37:55 PM

DCWoody

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I rapidly lost faith in that list as I began reading the articles.

For example

"Sweden is No. 3 and Finland No. 1, Norway No. 6 and Denmark No. 10—I find it hard to imagine just how much variety that Northern European buffet holds. Why is it that the Nordics always dominate such lists, anyhow? Since it’s dark and cold outside for most of the year, the smorgasbord itself must be an attempt to offset tedium, angst, and monochromatism. Even so, there couldn’t be that many kinds of pickled herring, smoked fish, dark rye bread, and mustards on the smorgasbord, be-cause we know from the 1987 movie Babette’s Feast that a French woman on the run in Scandinavia after the Paris Commune turned the austere locals into insane bons vivants by means of spices. Also, as Ingmar Bergman’s movies and Stieg Larsson’s novels show, Scandinavian angst is nothing to laugh about. Pass the vodka, the incest, and the noose."

They also, among other things, skewed the score by population. Larger population nations had their results boosted, small population nations were nerfed.

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 6

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 5:56:45 PM

joether

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

I rapidly lost faith in that list as I began reading the articles.

For example

"Sweden is No. 3 and Finland No. 1, Norway No. 6 and Denmark No. 10—I find it hard to imagine just how much variety that Northern European buffet holds. Why is it that the Nordics always dominate such lists, anyhow? Since it’s dark and cold outside for most of the year, the smorgasbord itself must be an attempt to offset tedium, angst, and monochromatism. Even so, there couldn’t be that many kinds of pickled herring, smoked fish, dark rye bread, and mustards on the smorgasbord, be-cause we know from the 1987 movie Babette’s Feast that a French woman on the run in Scandinavia after the Paris Commune turned the austere locals into insane bons vivants by means of spices. Also, as Ingmar Bergman’s movies and Stieg Larsson’s novels show, Scandinavian angst is nothing to laugh about. Pass the vodka, the incest, and the noose."

They also, among other things, skewed the score by population. Larger population nations had their results boosted, small population nations were nerfed.

I didn't quote the entire article. I know, its shocking. That someone would have to either, buy a copy of the magazine.....or visit a library! I just posted the top 10 'Overall Ranking'. I didnt post the other 89 (USA being #11). If countries with a large populous got a boost, they didnt tell China (#59) or Russia (#51). If smaller countries were nerfed, why is it Kumwait is #40, and Greece #26 (both beating out China & Russia)? Or how about the 'massive' population of #100, Burkina Faso?

Would be nice to know what criteria they used to picked each country's standing against the others.

(in reply to DCWoody)

Post #: 7

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 6:04:47 PM

brokedickdog

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The Scandinavians do so well because they all sauna regularly. In this country there was at one point in usage the medical phrase of "If a sauna and whiskey do not cure then all hope is lost." And I can attest to the accuracy of this. I built a Scandinavian style sauna in my woods and use it regularly in the cooler months.

(in reply to joether)

Post #: 8

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 6:04:59 PM

DCWoody

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"Would be nice to know what criteria they used to picked each country's standing against the others."
Like I said, one of the many criteria was population....nations were weighted by population (big population gives the score a boost, small hurts).

Also, much of the data was just wrong, I only looked at UK, but assume the mistakes are common throughout.
For example, according to them 2% of the UK population lives on less that 2005-USA$2 per day. 76% of the UK GDP is service, and 26% is manufacturing. How whoever compiled that didn't spot that problem I don't know.

I'd ignore it if I were you, seems totally incompetent.

(in reply to joether)

Post #: 9

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 6:05:13 PM

pogo4pres

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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

How the fuck can you say, with a straight face, that conservatives screwed education?

Education in this country has been under the control of liberals for over 30 years. If it's not tenured Professors free to preach their crap, it's teacher's unions refusing to fire lousy teachers.

This is just more liberal douchebaggery, from a liberal douchebag source (Newsweek)

Oh boy oh wow, the teachers union, yeah sure they have the little fuckers 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours a day, and it is the teachers fault. Before we begin bitching about lousy teachers, let us bitch first about (ready for it??) FUCKING SHITTY PARENTS. Parents that clearly do not give a shit if their kid does his /her homework, parents that expect the school to do their fucking job of parenting, parents that constantly defend "little johnny" when the little fucker is a terror in the school, yeah all that will end if we do away with the teachers unions.

Caterpillar D-9? maybe dude?

Educationally,
Some Knucklehead in NJ

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(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 10

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 6:17:46 PM

Lordandmaster

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Joined: 6/22/2004
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You can put me down as a liberal who thinks teachers' unions have fucked public education in this country.

As long as you acknowledge that local school boards have been right there fucking along with them.

So yeah, I think liberals and conservatives can share plenty of blame for the fact that our public education system is a laughingstock.

As for the "Top Ten nations"--please, that's ridiculous. The top ten in that list don't have anything like the problems that face large countries like the U.S. and U.K. It's very easy to be the most comfortable nation in the world when your total population is about the size of a small Chinese city.

< Message edited by Lordandmaster -- 8/18/2010 6:18:14 PM >

(in reply to pogo4pres)

Post #: 11

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 6:23:35 PM

Aneirin

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FR

I wonder the reason the US fails, is because it is too big, sure in the country certain states pehaps all the requisites of a top country might be met in certain places, but in other places not so much so, if at all, so averages may be taken dependant on the union, not the indiviual states. It could be said even that some states bring down other states and other states elevate other states when it comes to areas larger than a state, the whole of the US even. Perhaps another reason to have smaller countries with smaller populations, as I am more or less convinced now that unions are our downfall, centralised everything leads to centres and suburbs, sub being the word in terms of service in many instances.

The United Kingdom is another example, four countries made up of counties and shires, all of them from history united into larger administrative areas, situations where the best can be negated by the worst.

Interestingly, my observation of living in Sweden, one of the winning countries, is that the Swedes are very patriotic, but they are patriots to their region at the same time as the country. Come the national days they all have their national dress with their national colours depending on the area they come from. The UK national days, well what have we got left of our traditions, the Swedes definately win hands down in terms of culture and nationalism.

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(in reply to pogo4pres)

Post #: 12

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 7:04:35 PM

StrangerThan

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Joined: 4/25/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin

FR

I wonder the reason the US fails, is because it is too big, sure in the country certain states pehaps all the requisites of a top country might be met in certain places, but in other places not so much so, if at all, so averages may be taken dependant on the union, not the indiviual states. It could be said even that some states bring down other states and other states elevate other states when it comes to areas larger than a state, the whole of the US even. Perhaps another reason to have smaller countries with smaller populations, as I am more or less convinced now that unions are our downfall, centralised everything leads to centres and suburbs, sub being the word in terms of service in many instances.

The United Kingdom is another example, four countries made up of counties and shires, all of them from history united into larger administrative areas, situations where the best can be negated by the worst.

Interestingly, my observation of living in Sweden, one of the winning countries, is that the Swedes are very patriotic, but they are patriots to their region at the same time as the country. Come the national days they all have their national dress with their national colours depending on the area they come from. The UK national days, well what have we got left of our traditions, the Swedes definately win hands down in terms of culture and nationalism.

I think it mostly fails because a lot of folks have nothing to do but sit around and bitch and moan at each other. You can tell when a country is on the decline. It's when offense starts to rank up there with real crime.

_____________________________

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(in reply to Aneirin)

Post #: 13

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 7:37:37 PM

servantforuse

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If anyone out there likes 10 other countries more that the USA, they should just move there. I couldn't care less what some stupid survey says. This is the best country in the world. I like it here.

(in reply to StrangerThan)

Post #: 14

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 8:29:33 PM

joether

Posts: 5195
Joined: 7/24/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody
Also, much of the data was just wrong, I only looked at UK, but assume the mistakes are common throughout.
For example, according to them 2% of the UK population lives on less that 2005-USA$2 per day. 76% of the UK GDP is service, and 26% is manufacturing. How whoever compiled that didn't spot that problem I don't know.

I'd ignore it if I were you, seems totally incompetent.

Rather hypocritical of you? Bash Newsweek for their data, when you yourself don't publish yours? Where DOES your data come from?

As I didnt publish their data source, I'm quoting strictly from a magazine publication (yes, a computer that uses no energy, and you actually have to turn the pages). So, if your data, and theirs, are different, then it would be fair to say, the conclusions should be different as well.

This may help....Newsweek's article

(in reply to DCWoody)

Post #: 15

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 8:40:42 PM

DCWoody

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I'm gonna try to say this again. Newsweek...as in, the group you refer to, as in newsweek.com have given out some basic details of their methodology, including giving bonus/penalty for large/small population.
They have also given out some stats that they used
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html

Where you can see that, among other things (I would assume there are other errors, but I haven't checked)..they say that 2% of the UK population is living on less that USA$2 per day, and giving %s of UK GDP for the service & manufacturing sector that add up to MORE than 100%.
I also am suspicious of their 'new business start up time', although that's debatable. Point is, just the first couple of things I clicked on for my nation contained massive errors....I wouldn't trust that study to tell me the correct date.

(in reply to joether)

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RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 9:25:50 PM

Brain

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The phrase ignorance is bliss comes to mind.

quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

If anyone out there likes 10 other countries more that the USA, they should just move there. I couldn't care less what some stupid survey says. This is the best country in the world. I like it here.

(in reply to servantforuse)

Post #: 17

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 11:25:16 PM

Fellow

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Upper middle class would probably agree: it feels like ranked 11th. 40 million on food stamps perhaps would say: overrated. Homeless in LA would say: it can not be better in Scandinavia, too freezing cold, how they sleep.

(in reply to Brain)

Post #: 18

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/18/2010 11:40:16 PM

EbonyWood

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quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

If anyone out there likes 10 other countries more that the USA, they should just move there. I couldn't care less what some stupid survey says. This is the best country in the world. I like it here.

List all the countries you've lived in for an extended period of time.

(in reply to servantforuse)

Post #: 19

RE: USA ranks 11th in Newsweek - 8/19/2010 12:12:30 AM

joether

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody
I'm gonna try to say this again. Newsweek...as in, the group you refer to, as in newsweek.com have given out some basic details of their methodology, including giving bonus/penalty for large/small population.
They have also given out some stats that they used
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html

So your going to base your entire arguement on 'some' methodology and not the 'complete' methodogy? Ok....

Yes, ONE, of the categories, they looked at, was population. It was no higher or lower on a list. In fact, some countries with small populations did better then big countries and vise versa. But that is only one category on the list and there are, OTHER, criteria was also considered. HERE, is how they factored concepts in to the final decision. Is it fair? Maybe. Is it good? Maybe Could it better next year? Yes.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody
Where you can see that, among other things (I would assume there are other errors, but I haven't checked)..they say that 2% of the UK population is living on less that USA$2 per day, and giving %s of UK GDP for the service & manufacturing sector that add up to MORE than 100%.

Where does this 2% come from, in the article? Either online or in the magizine itself. Post the exact place & point it out. Its either a site or a page number. Believe it or not, DCWoody, there are poor people in EVERY country of the world, including the rich ones. Yes, there are even some, who live on less then $2/day. They dont drive jaguars, live in mansions, or have 40 employees. I know that seems tough for you to understand. Try visiting a shelter some time. Even better, volunteer to work at one for a year. You just might meet some pretty extraordinary people.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody
I also am suspicious of their 'new business start up time', although that's debatable. Point is, just the first couple of things I clicked on for my nation contained massive errors....I wouldn't trust that study to tell me the correct date.

Which is your home country? What are the errors? Present the correct information and source of said information.

(in reply to DCWoody)

Post #: 20

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