The Trump presidency and its mantra "Make America Great Again" has become a source of tension in this country. People argue that a nation built on genocide and slavery could never be great. Other's say that it was, in fact, Obama who made us awesome and that we'll be dismantling large swathes of progress with the new regime. In response to these naysayers, here are a few reasons America is greater than you think:
1. The United States has a functioning and respected constitution.
A constitution is, in theory, the outline a government should follow in running itself and governing it's people. But it's not enough to say that we have a constitution because, frankly, it is simply a document. Plenty of governing bodies all over the world have constitutions but, for any number of despotic or honest reasons, they are not always followed. America's Constitution is one of the most well-written in the world, for its ability to designate exactly what belongs to the government, what goes to the people and for its preparation for a future with unknown technology and conditions. The faith that the American people have in the Constitution's ability to protect our rights and to reign in a potentially tyrannical government makes this document strong.
2. We have a mostly capitalistic socioeconomic set-up.
Some people would argue that our capitalistic system is actually a reason to say America is terrible. But to those people, I'll quote my economics professor: no system is more effective or efficient at identifying what the people want and getting it to them in a timely fashion. Centrally-planned economies regularly have consistently resulted in famine, general poverty, and come with the added bonus of human rights violations. Capitalism does have winners and losers. But I'll take a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place over an average 20th for everyone.
3. America pioneered the "democratic and peaceful transition of power".
The peaceful transition of power is something Americans sometimes take for granted. When you consider the transitions of power before and after the American revolution - wars over the royal bloodline in England, the beheading of the nobility in France, communist dictatorships and revolutions in Latin America, the Arab Spring- America had no reason to be any different. Our elections and change of power, instead, reflect the ability of Americans to disagree and still be united.
4. Political and social movements are not punished.
This is key to America's progress as a nation. Citizens of the United States have unparalleled liberties within the law to peacefully protest, lobby their representatives, and organize change. They have access to the resources and the political freedom to make their voices heard. Most importantly, participants in these movements are not punished. I say this conditionally of course; Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were imprisoned for their civil disobedience. Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting illegally in 1872. Ultimately, however, history was on all their respective sides. The same cannot be said of the despotic regimes in Cuba and North Korea, where political dissidents are murdered, never to be heard or seen again.
5. We are diverse.
I should start out by saying that there are many different kinds of diversity. Diversity of skin color, diversity of religion, diversity of gender, and so on and so forth. However, the most important kind of diversity we could ever dream of is diversity of thought. It is that kind of variety that helps us create hundreds of solution for the same problem. It is that kind of range of ideas that helps us debate and choose the best answer to our issues. Finally, it is diversity of thought that makes us great but the shared dream of progress in America that makes us great. Shared decency, shared core values, and shared respect for everyone's right to disagree.
So the next time someone tells you that America sucks, remember this list. And remember the best thing to say back:
Good luck America.
