I would define a "successful nation" as one which creates an environment where the people synergize in such a way to alleviate poverty, starvation, hunger, and disease. Where the climate is such that any person has an opportunity to develop spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally in whatever way they most desire. This synergistic relationship between people and government, also should help end war and poverty for all the people of planet earth, as well as foster the same kind of aspirations for them.
No country has come closer to reaching these ideals than America.
I think that last comment a little dangerous, if taken to its logical extreme: since America comes closest to reaching these ideals, everybody else ought to be like America, or ought to submit to American leadership.
America suits us because we built it. Every society builds compromises between incompatibles like the desire for freedom and the desire for order. No compromise is universal; each is built to suit the needs of the people doing the building.
I can think of individuals from Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada - and that's just off the top of my head - who would argue quite persuasively that their own countries have achieved your goals to a much greater extent than ours. I wouldn't say they were right or wrong; I would say that their ways suit them better. |
