Iceland ranked best place to live
November 28th 2007 18:30
The United Nations releases a report every year indexing the livability of 175 member nations, Hong Kong, and the Palestinian territories. They omit 17 countries because of inadequate data. Those include Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. I think it's safe to say that if they had been included they wouldn't have skewered the rankings at the top. It would be interesting to see how Iraq has changed since the U.S. brought them "democracy," though.
The Human Development Index uses factors such as life expectancy, educational levels, and real per capita income. The bottom ten were all African countries, mostly because of the ravages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but also because of low incomes. Sierra Leone came in dead last. Of course there are other factors a person would want to consider when choosing their "best place to live." but the index is worth noting, as it does shed light on some important issues.
The top twelve are from twelve to one...12. The United States. 11.Finland 10.France 9.Netherlands 8.Japan 7.Switzerland 6.Sweden 5.Ireland 4.Canada 3.Australia 2.Norway 1. Iceland. But what does the data tell us here in America?
For one, all of the countries ahead of us have strong social governments that provide adequate and secure safety nets for all of their citizens, including universal health care. Another point worth noting is that the gap between their top income levels and their low isn't anywhere close to what it is in the U.S. We can draw the conclusion that when a society (or country) takes responsibility for all of its people and gives them all the chance for a happy, healthy life, more of them lead happy, healthy lives.
I know the kind of response that this will generate from many in America, especially those who would call themselves conservative. To them I ask, what is wrong with looking at places where some things are being done better, and saying "maybe we should consider it?" Are we so caught up in our American exceptionalism that we can't even acknowledge that we can learn from others? Of the 11 countries ahead of America, I have been to six, either while in the Navy or on my own travels. I can't see any reason to dispute the report. When you criticize, answer me this - what knowledge are you drawing on to make your assumption? And don't just tell me because Jesus and George Bush said so. Incidentally, all of the countries above the U.S. are substantially less religious, but that's another article.
My point is that the conservative mindset that America is always right, Americans are always better, and being socially responsible for all citizens is bad is akin to ostrich with it's head in the sand. We liberals can see the positives in other countries as well as the negatives, and when someplace might be doing it better, we want to know why, and if we can apply it here. We can choose to do that, are we can follow Mr. Bush and company on down the rankings.
The Human Development Index uses factors such as life expectancy, educational levels, and real per capita income. The bottom ten were all African countries, mostly because of the ravages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but also because of low incomes. Sierra Leone came in dead last. Of course there are other factors a person would want to consider when choosing their "best place to live." but the index is worth noting, as it does shed light on some important issues.
The top twelve are from twelve to one...12. The United States. 11.Finland 10.France 9.Netherlands 8.Japan 7.Switzerland 6.Sweden 5.Ireland 4.Canada 3.Australia 2.Norway 1. Iceland. But what does the data tell us here in America?
For one, all of the countries ahead of us have strong social governments that provide adequate and secure safety nets for all of their citizens, including universal health care. Another point worth noting is that the gap between their top income levels and their low isn't anywhere close to what it is in the U.S. We can draw the conclusion that when a society (or country) takes responsibility for all of its people and gives them all the chance for a happy, healthy life, more of them lead happy, healthy lives.
I know the kind of response that this will generate from many in America, especially those who would call themselves conservative. To them I ask, what is wrong with looking at places where some things are being done better, and saying "maybe we should consider it?" Are we so caught up in our American exceptionalism that we can't even acknowledge that we can learn from others? Of the 11 countries ahead of America, I have been to six, either while in the Navy or on my own travels. I can't see any reason to dispute the report. When you criticize, answer me this - what knowledge are you drawing on to make your assumption? And don't just tell me because Jesus and George Bush said so. Incidentally, all of the countries above the U.S. are substantially less religious, but that's another article.
My point is that the conservative mindset that America is always right, Americans are always better, and being socially responsible for all citizens is bad is akin to ostrich with it's head in the sand. We liberals can see the positives in other countries as well as the negatives, and when someplace might be doing it better, we want to know why, and if we can apply it here. We can choose to do that, are we can follow Mr. Bush and company on down the rankings.
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