America not great, but doing better?

  

The United States just can’t lose. 

American GDP is expected to rise 2.7% in 2024 while the stock market reaches new highs.  

In the meantime, Germany is teetering into recession. Great Britain is managing post-Brexit syndrome. China is losing population while Canada faces a housing shortage amidst an economic slowdown. 

Don’t get me wrong – the U.S. has problems. It will always have problems. With gun violence. With racial divisions. With you-know-who. But all that aside, things are kind of looking up. Violent crime has dropped to its lowest level since the 1960s, the unemployment rate is at historic lows, and inflation has declined considerably. 

As much as I’ve enjoyed criticizing American capitalism throughout the years, the economic and social progress this nation has made is still the envy of most of the world. Against all odds, the country has maintained its dominance on the world stage. 

Its relative strength has diminished only because other countries have emulated its economic success. India's GDP, for example, has grown 6-7% per year since 2006. The share of India’s population living in poverty has fallen from 29% to 11% over the last decade, meaning 248 million fewer people live in dire conditions. 

This growth has given countries more autonomy in making foreign policy decisions, whether the West likes it or not. In part, it’s because they no longer feel obligated to kowtow to American interests. 

That doesn’t mean the U.S. has become less productive or powerful. They’re still the world’s largest military power and the most attractive destination for new immigrants (Canada comes in second). Its influence on culture reverberates throughout the world, whether other nations appreciate it or not. 

We used to point to their inhumane healthcare system, but they’re doing much better than twenty years ago. The Affordable Care Act is filling a gap where many were previously uninsured. The majority who have insurance typically get quality service and may not suffer the same wait times as we do in Canada (we won't talk about the inefficiencies, higher costs and uninsured services.) 

As a Canadian, I say this all not with great admiration – it’s not like I’d ever want to move there – but befuddlement. How many have predicted America’s downfall? At least for the time being, they’re doing pretty good. 

If the U.S. can survive the next election cycle – and I realize that’s a big if – they could be on a positive trajectory for many years to come. Investments in clean energy, foreign aid to places like Ukraine (please, send more money to Ukraine), and brokering peace in conflict zones like the Middle East would show that they haven’t completely lost interest in the world around them. 

If the Trump Republican Party could abandon the America First mantra, which reduces their influence over world affairs, so much the better. In a polarized world, where dictatorships are gaining ground faster than democracies, countries that espouse to be free can't afford to become insular. As Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion said in a recent interview, “You cannot defend democracy in your country, ignoring the rest of the rest of the world.” 

What I’m really trying to say is, I’m, uh, kind of pulling for you, USA. Our future might just depend on it. (Gulp.)