Quote: the Greatest Nation on Earth

[liveonearth]

The hoariest and most of-repeated cliche in American politics
may be that America is the greatest country in the world.
Every politician, Democrat and Republican,
seems duty bound to pander to this idea of American exceptionalism,
and woe until him who hints otherwise.
There is nothing wrong with self-satisfaction or national pride.
But the incessant trumpeting of our national superiority to every other country
is more than just off-putting and insulting.
It is infantile, like the vaunting of a schoolyard bully
that his Dad is better than your Dad.
--Neal Gabler in the Boston Globe

Comments

[calizen.livejournal.com]

However, no one gets elected or re-elected if he says otherwise.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Sure seems that way. Except for one. Ron Paul is straightforward about the US's role and reputation in the community of nations, and his fraction of Texas keeps re-electing him.