Will McAvoy Rejects US Exceptionalism, Cites Lagging Global Ranks

AbuWadee3

Solving national decline requires acknowledging that the US is no longer the greatest country on Earth, having fallen behind peer democracies in health and education while leading only in incarceration and defense spending.

AI-assisted summary of Why America is NOT the greatest country in the world, anymore. — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2012-06-26

Key ideas

Challenging conventional bipartisan talking points at a college panel, news anchor Will McAvoy argues there is no empirical evidence supporting the claim that the United States is the greatest country in the world. (1:46)
Will rejects the notion of unique American liberty, noting that roughly 180 out of 207 sovereign nations globally enjoy comparable democratic freedoms. (1:46)
U.S. performance lags significantly in key metrics—ranking 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, and 178th in infant mortality—while leading globally in only per-capita incarceration, belief in angels, and defense spending. (1:46)
Reflecting on an era marked by moral ambition, scientific breakthroughs, and informed civic trust, McAvoy concludes that acknowledging America's decline is the mandatory first step to resolving its problems. (3:11)

Detailed notes

## Background This video was published on YouTube by the channel AbuWadee3 on June 26, 2012. No show notes or description were provided on the video page.

## TL;DR During a college panel discussion, news anchor Will McAvoy is pressed by a moderator to genuinely answer a student's question about what makes America the greatest country in the world. After initially deflecting with sarcasm, Will abandons his polished, neutral persona and delivers a blistering critique of both liberal and conservative talking points. He directly dismantles the premise of American exceptionalism, reciting grim statistics regarding literacy, healthcare, and incarceration to prove the nation no longer leads the world. He concludes with an elegiac reflection on what the country once achieved when driven by shared purpose and informed citizens, stressing that acknowledging the decline is the first step toward fixing it.

## Atmosphere & style The exchange begins with polite, familiar panel banter before escalating into an explosive, confrontational dismantling of national mythology. Will's delivery transitions from sharp, biting sarcasm and aggressive statistical indictments to a quiet, melancholic reverence for what the country used to represent. The atmosphere shifts from stunned, uncomfortable shock in the room to a sobering and deeply reflective reality check.

## Bulletin - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Challenging conventional bipartisan talking points at a college panel, news anchor Will McAvoy argues there is no empirical evidence supporting the claim that the United States is the greatest country in the world. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Will rejects the notion of unique American liberty, noting that roughly 180 out of 207 sovereign nations globally enjoy comparable democratic freedoms. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) U.S. performance lags significantly in key metrics—ranking 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, and 178th in infant mortality—while leading globally in only per-capita incarceration, belief in angels, and defense spending. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) Reflecting on an era marked by moral ambition, scientific breakthroughs, and informed civic trust, McAvoy concludes that acknowledging America's decline is the mandatory first step to resolving its problems.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=0s) A student's query asking what makes America the greatest country draws standard soundbites from panelists: 'diversity and opportunity' from the left and 'freedom' from the right. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=0s) Will McAvoy initially tries to evade the question with jokes and reverence for founding documents like the Constitution and Declaration of Independence before being pressured for a real answer. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Will criticizes the political dysfunction of liberals, arguing that fixating on minor symbolic battles like NEA funding alienates voters and causes them to continually lose. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Will dismantles the conservative myth of exclusive American liberty, observing that about 180 of the world's 207 sovereign states enjoy fundamental democratic freedoms. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Empirical rankings contradict claims of American superiority, placing the nation 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, and 178th in infant mortality. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) The United States leads the world in only three categories: incarcerated citizens per capita, adults who believe angels are real, and defense spending that surpasses the next 26 nations combined. - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) Will directly challenges the student and her cohort as the 'worst generation ever' for uncritically accepting the myth of national supremacy without grasping the facts. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) Will concedes that America 'sure used to be' great when it fought for moral reasons, sacrificed collectively, and waged war on poverty rather than poor people. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) Past American greatness was defined by monumental technological and medical achievements, exploring the universe, and creating the world's leading economy and art. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) Previous generations aspired to intellectual excellence instead of feeling belittled by intelligence or resenting it. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) Earlier generations of Americans did not reduce their identities purely to political affiliations, were not easily ruled by fear, and were kept informed by trusted leaders and journalists. - [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) National recovery requires confronting reality: the first step in solving any problem is recognizing that America is no longer the greatest country in the world.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=0s) The College Panel and Will McAvoy's Initial Deflection

During a university panel discussion, a sophomore student named Jenny steps up to the microphone to pose a question to the three panelists, asking them to explain in one sentence or less why America is the greatest country in the world. The responses begin predictably along familiar political lines. Sharon, representing a liberal perspective, concisely offers, “Diversity and opportunity.” Lewis, speaking from the conservative viewpoint, follows with, “Freedom and freedom. So, let's keep it that way.” When the moderator turns to news anchor Will McAvoy, Will attempts to deflect the question with dry sarcasm, deadpanning, “The New York Jets.”

The moderator immediately refuses to accept the evasive joke, insisting on holding Will to a genuine answer and pressing him on what truly makes America the greatest country on earth. Will initially tries to echo his co-panelists by claiming that Sharon and Lewis already nailed it with diversity, opportunity, and freedom. Unmoved, the moderator makes it clear that Will will not be allowed to leave for the airport without providing a substantive response. Will then attempts a loftier, patriotic pivot, praising the nation's founding documents and architects: “Well, our Constitution is a masterpiece. James Madison was a genius. The Declaration of Independence is for me the single greatest piece of American writing.”

Seeing that the moderator remains utterly unsatisfied, Will asks what is lacking. The moderator pushes back, pointing out that one document is merely a set of laws and the other a declaration of war, demanding an authentic, personal answer about the American people themselves. Backed into a corner after repeated prodding, Will finally sheds his polished neutral television persona and erupts.

[01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=106s) The Reality Check: Debunking American Exceptionalism

Will dismantles both panelists before setting his sights on the premise of the student's question. He first turns on Sharon, dismissing liberal posturing over symbolic funding battles like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), arguing that while it costs taxpayers mere pennies, it continually hands conservatives an easy political weapon. As Will sharply summarizes the political dysfunction of the left: “You know why people don't like liberals? Because they lose. If liberals are so fucking smart, how come they lose so goddamn always?” He then pivots to Lewis, ridiculing the blind exceptionalism that portrays the United States as the sole beacon of liberty, rattling off a long list of democratic nations that enjoy basic civil freedoms—including Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, and Belgium—pointing out that of roughly 207 sovereign states in the world, around 180 share those same fundamental liberties.

Turning directly to Jenny, whom he addresses as "sorority girl," Will delivers a harsh wake-up call to prepare her for the day she enters a voting booth. He directly dismantles the uncritical myth of American supremacy, stating: “There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we're the greatest country in the world.” He backs this claim by reciting a barrage of global rankings that place the nation far below the top tier across essential social, medical, and educational metrics. While acknowledging that an undergraduate student cannot be held responsible for systemic failures, he nonetheless chastises her cohort as the "worst generation ever," bluntly concluding that he has no idea what she is talking about when asking what makes the country the greatest.

- **International Rankings:** - 7th in literacy - 27th in math - 22nd in science - 49th in life expectancy - 178th in infant mortality - 3rd in median household income - 4th in labor force - 4th in exports - **The Only Three Categories Where America Leads:** - Number of incarcerated citizens per capita - Number of adults who believe angels are real - Defense spending, where the United States spends more than the next 26 countries combined (25 of which are American allies)

[03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) What America Used to Be and the Path Forward

When the stunned moderator tries to grasp at national pride by asking about natural wonders like Yosemite, Will's blistering anger subsides into genuine melancholy. He quietly concedes, “Sure used to be,” before launching into an elegiac reflection on the country's former character and achievements. He recalls an era when Americans fought and changed laws for moral reasons, waged war on poverty rather than on poor people, made sacrifices, cared for their neighbors, and achieved monumental feats without chest-beating arrogance. During that time, the country built magnificent structures, engineered historic technological breakthroughs, explored the universe, cured devastating diseases, and fostered both the world's greatest economy and its finest artists.

Will emphasizes that past generations aspired to intellectual excellence instead of resenting it, never allowing intelligence to make them feel inferior. Citizens did not reduce their entire personal identities to their voting choices, nor were they so easily terrified by political rhetoric. Crucially, he explains, society functioned because citizens were kept genuinely informed by revered, trustworthy leaders and journalists. Bringing his critique to its sobering conclusion, Will offers the only realistic starting point for national recovery: “First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.” He turns back to the stunned moderator with a terse final word: “Enough?”

## Notable quotes > [03:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=191s) First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. — Will McAvoy

## Mentioned Jenny, Sharon, Lewis, Will McAvoy, New York Jets, United States Constitution, James Madison, Declaration of Independence, National Endowment for the Arts, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, Belgium, Yosemite

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs)

中文简报

威尔·麦卡沃伊驳斥“美国例外论”，直指多项全球排名落后解决国家衰落问题的前提是承认美国已不再是世界上最伟大的国家；在医疗和教育方面已落后于同类民主国家，仅在监禁率和国防开支上处于领先。在一场大学座谈会上，主持人一再追问，要求新闻主播威尔·麦卡沃伊正面回答一名学生提出的关于“是什么让美国成为世界上最伟大国家”的问题。在最初以讽刺回避后，威尔放弃了平日优雅中立的人设，对自由派和保守派的说辞展开了尖锐抨击。他直接打破了“美国例外论”的前提，列举了有关识字率、医疗保健和监禁率的严峻数据，以证明美国已不再领先世界。最后，他带着挽歌般的基调回顾了国家在共同目标和知情公民推动下曾经取得的成就，并强调承认衰落是解决问题的第一步。在大学座谈会上，新闻主播威尔·麦卡沃伊对两党常规说辞提出质疑，认为没有任何经验证据支持“美国是世界上最伟大国家”这一论调。 (1:46) 威尔驳斥了美国独享自由的观点，指出在全球207个主权国家中，约有180个享有同等的民主自由。 (1:46) 美国在多项关键指标上显著落后——数学排名第27，科学第22，预期寿命第49，婴儿死亡率第178——仅在人均监禁率、相信天使的存在以及国防开支上领先全球。 (1:46) 麦卡沃伊回顾了那个充满道德追求、科学突破以及拥有知情公民互信的时代，并总结道，承认美国的衰落是解决其自身问题不可或缺的第一步。 (3:11)

Reading summary

During a university panel, news anchor Will McAvoy challenges the premise of American exceptionalism, asserting that statistical evidence refutes claims of national supremacy. He argues that addressing systemic decline requires Americans to first acknowledge that the country is no longer the greatest in the world. Rejection of Partisan Slogans and Unique Liberty (1:46) Pressed by a moderator to explain what makes the United States the greatest nation, Will McAvoy rejects the superficial answers offered by both political extremes. He criticizes the liberal tendency to focus on minor culture-war funding like the National Endowment for the Arts, arguing that tactical failures undermine liberal goals. Simultaneously, he dismisses the conservative assertion that the United States has an exclusive hold on liberty, observing that approximately 180 out of 207 sovereign states—including Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—enjoy basic civil freedoms. Statistical Realities of Social and Economic Metrics (1:46) McAvoy contends that empirical data directly contradicts the narrative of American preeminence. He notes that the country places far outside the top tier in critical indicators, ranking 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, and 178th in infant mortality, while ranking 3rd in median household income and 4th in labor force and exports. According to McAvoy, the United States leads international tables in only three categories: the rate of incarcerated citizens per capita, the number of adults believing in angels, and defense expenditure, where the country spends more than the next 26 nations combined, 25 of which are designated as American allies. Historical Achievements and Civic Decline (3:11) Contrasting modern conditions with past eras, McAvoy concedes that the United States historically accomplished remarkable feats without arrogance. He recalls a period defined by moral legislation, direct anti-poverty efforts, shared sacrifices, scientific discovery, space exploration, and major technological and economic advances. In McAvoy's view, past success depended on a culture that respected intellect rather than resenting it. He highlights that citizens previously avoided defining their full identities through political voting choices, were less easily swayed by fear-driven rhetoric, and relied on trusted leaders and journalists to maintain an informed electorate. McAvoy maintains that meaningful recovery cannot begin without discarding unearned national pride, stating that the essential first step toward solving any problem is admitting that America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.

精炼阅读摘要

新闻主播Will McAvoy在一场大学座谈会上打破政治说辞，直言没有任何客观证据能够证明美国是世界上最伟大的国家，并指出正视国家的衰落是解决系统性危机的前提。破除党派陈词与自由垄断神话 (1:46) 在面对“是什么让美国成为最伟大国家”的提问时，Will McAvoy对左右两派的传统修辞进行了逐一驳斥。针对自由派代表以“多元与机遇”为幌子却频频在政治斗争中失败的现状，McAvoy批评其沉溺于国家艺术基金（NEA）等象征性预算争斗；同时，他也反驳了保守派将美国标榜为全球唯一自由灯塔的例外论说辞。McAvoy指出，全球大约207个主权国家中，包括加拿大、日本、英国、法国、意大利、德国、西班牙、澳大利亚和比利时在内的大约180个国家均享有基本的公民自由，自由并非美国独有的特权。客观国际指标揭示的发展现实 (1:46) McAvoy直接以一系列国际发展指标反驳了美国独步全球的幻想。在基础教育与民生健康领域，美国识字率位居全球第7，数学排在第27位，科学位列第22位，人均预期寿命排在第49位，婴儿死亡率排在第178位；在经济领域，美国家庭收入中位数排在第3位，劳动力和出口额均位列第4位。与此相对，McAvoy强调美国目前真正领先全球的仅有三项指标：人均监禁人数、相信天使真实存在的成年人数量，以及超过后续26国总和的国防开支，而这26个国家中有25个都是美国的盟友。往昔道德高度与复兴的第一步 (3:11) 在承认美国过去“确实曾是最伟大国家”的同时，McAvoy回顾了美国曾经拥有的道德责任感与集体成就。他指出，过去的美国基于道德诉求变革法律，对贫困宣战而非刁难穷人，追求卓越与科学探索，在没有虚妄自大的氛围下治愈致命疾病、探索宇宙并创造繁荣的经济与文化艺术。当时的国民崇尚智识而非反智，没有将个人认同完全与党派投票绑定，更依赖值得信赖的新闻工作者与领导人获取真实信息。McAvoy由此总结道，解决任何问题的首要步骤就是承认问题的存在，唯有承认“美国不再是世界上最伟大的国家”，改革才可能发生。该节目的核心观点在于通过详实的统计落差与历史对照，戳破美国例外论的盲目自信。McAvoy主张，唯有摒弃空洞的爱国主义口号并坦承当下的退步，公众才有可能探寻扭转社会、制度和文化全面下滑的现实途径。

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 该视频由YouTube频道“AbuWadee3”于2012年6月26日发布，视频标题为《为什么美国不再是世界上最伟大的国家》，页面未提供具体的简介或说明信息。 ## TL;DR 在一场大学座谈会上，资深新闻主播威尔·麦卡沃伊（Will McAvoy）在主持人的步步紧逼下情绪爆发，直言美国已不再是世界上最伟大的国家。他无情地痛斥了自由派的软弱和保守派的盲目自大，并列举了一系列在教育、医疗和经济指标上的落后数据，指出美国如今仅在监禁率、相信天使的比例和国防开支上领跑全球。最后，威尔深情追忆了美国昔日在科学、艺术和公民精神上的黄金时代，并强调承认问题的存在是解决危机的第一步。 ## Atmosphere & style 视频的氛围经历了从轻松敷衍到极度紧绷，再到震撼爆发的剧烈转变。威尔的发言充满愤怒、犀利与不留情面的批判感，他用连珠炮般的数据和质问瞬间打破了现场虚伪的祥和，令全场陷入死一般的寂静。随着情绪从激昂的控诉转为对昔日辉煌的深沉哀悼，整体基调变得充满沧桑、反思与警示意味，最后以一句冰冷而充满挑衅的追问收尾，给观众带来极强的心理冲击。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=0s) 提问环节与威尔的避重就轻在一场面向大学生的座谈会上，大二女生珍妮（Jenny）站到麦克风前向台上的三位嘉宾提问，要求他们用一句话或更少的篇幅说明“为什么美国是世界上最伟大的国家”。左派嘉宾席琳（Sharon）立刻给出了标准答案：“多样性与机遇”（Diversity and opportunity）；右派嘉宾路易斯（Lewis）则以保守派的标准口吻回应：“自由与自由，让我们保持这样”（Uh, freedom and freedom. So, let's keep it that way.）。轮到资深新闻主播威尔·麦卡沃伊（Will McAvoy）时，他试图用一句冷笑话敷衍过去，脱口而出：“纽约喷气机队”（The New York Jets.）。现场主持人兼教授并不打算放过威尔，严厉地打断并施压，表示绝不会让他在回机场前不回答这个问题。威尔起初试图继续打马虎眼，把另外两位嘉宾的词句拼凑在一起，随后又拿出官方说辞，称赞美国宪法是一部杰作、詹姆斯·麦迪逊（James Madison）是个天才，以及《独立宣言》是他心目中美国历史上最伟大的文字作品。然而主持人依然不满意，直言一部是法律条文、另一部是开战宣言，他要的是威尔真实、人性化的回答，并追问：“那美国的人民呢？为什么美国是世界上最伟大的国家，教授？”威尔在沉默和幻觉的冲击下终于情绪破防，直接打断了主持人的话：“它不是世界上最伟大的国家，教授，这就是我的答案。”（It's not the greatest country in the world, Professor. That's my answer.） ### [01:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=107s) 戳破两党幻觉与残酷的现实数据威尔的爆发随即席卷全场。他首先转向自由派的席琳，痛斥自由派的软弱与政治失能：“Sharon, the NEA is a loser. Yeah, it accounts for a penny out of our paycheck, but he gets to hit you with it anytime he wants. It doesn't cost money. It costs votes. It costs airtime and column inches. You know why people don't like liberals? Because they lose. If liberals are so fucking smart, how come they lose so goddamn always?” 接着，威尔猛烈抨击保守派关于“唯有美国享有自由”的盲目自大，当场反问他们怎么敢一本正经地对学生宣扬美国如此星条旗闪耀，以至于成了全世界唯一拥有自由的国家。威尔直言加拿大、日本、英国、法国、意大利、德国、西班牙、澳大利亚以及比利时都拥有自由，在全世界207个主权国家中，大约有180个同样享有自由。随后威尔将矛头直指提问的女大学生珍妮，警告她以防万一哪天意外走进投票站，必须认清客观现实：“There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we're the greatest country in the world.” 威尔当场列举了一连串令人震惊的国际排名与统计数据，直言没有任何事实能证明美国是世界第一。虽然他承认这些衰落并非一个20岁大学生的过错，但他依然毫不留情地称她这一代人是“有史以来最差劲的一代”（the worst period generation period ever period），并在最后讽刺道，如果非要找个美国最伟大的理由，难道是因为优胜美地国家公园（Yosemite）吗？ ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 美国国际排名与领先指标对比 accDescr: 展示威尔所列举的美国落后指标与唯一领先的三大负面或畸形指标 subgraph 落后指标 L1["识字率：第 7 位"] L2["数学：第 27 位"] L3["科学：第 22 位"] L4["预期寿命：第 49 位"] L5["婴儿死亡率：第 178 位"] L6["家庭收入中位数：第 3 位"] L7["劳动力与出口：均居第 4 位"] end subgraph 领先指标["仅领跑的三大领域"] W1["人均在押囚犯数量"] W2["相信天使存在的成年人比例"] W3["国防开支<br/>（超过其后26国总和，其中25国为盟友）"] end ``` - 识字率（Literacy）：第7位 - 数学（Math）：第27位 - 科学（Science）：第22位 - 预期寿命（Life expectancy）：第49位 - 婴儿死亡率（Infant mortality）：第178位 - 家庭收入中位数（Median household income）：第3位 - 劳动力规模（Labor force）与出口额（Exports）：均列世界第4位 - 全球仅领先的三大领域：人均监禁率（Incarcerated citizens per capita）、相信天使真实存在的成年人比例（Adults who believe angels are real）、以及国防开支（Defense spending，其支出超过随后26个国家的总和，其中25个还是美国的盟友） ### [03:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs&t=205s) 过去的辉煌、公民精神的丧失与自省在全场死一般的寂静中，威尔的情绪逐渐平复，转入对美国昔日黄金时代的深情追忆。他承认美国“过去确实曾经是”（Sure used to be）世界上最伟大的国家。在那个时代，美国为正义挺身而出，为崇高的道德理由而战，同样出于道德理由去通过或废除法律；国家向贫困宣战，而不是向穷人宣战。威尔动情地回忆道，那时的人们愿意牺牲，关爱邻里，言出必行且从不狂妄自大，不仅建造宏伟的工程、取得惊人的技术进步、探索宇宙、治愈疾病，还培育出了全球最伟大的艺术家和最繁荣的经济。威尔强调，过去的美国人勇往直前、行事有担当，崇尚智慧而非贬低理性，面对知识不会感到自卑，更不会单凭上一次选举中把票投给谁来定义自己的身份，也不会动辄陷入恐慌。支撑这一切的根基，是当时的人民拥有知情权，并且受到受人尊敬的伟人所启发和引领。发言的最后，威尔道出了解决危机的第一法则：“The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one.” 他郑重地再次断言：“America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.” 并在全场震惊的目光中冷冷地反问了一句：“够了吗？”（Enough?） [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs)

Source quotes

[3:11] Will McAvoy: First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.

Original transcript

[0:00] Go ahead. [0:00] Hi, [0:01] my name is Jenny. I'm a sophomore and [0:03] this is for all three of you. [0:05] Can you say in one sentence or less what [0:09] Um, you know what I mean. [0:11] Can you say why America is the greatest [0:14] country in the world? [0:16] Diversity and opportunity. [0:19] Lewis. [0:20] Uh, freedom and freedom. So, let's keep [0:23] it that way. [0:25] Will. [0:27] The New York Jets. [0:32] No. I'm going to hold you to an answer [0:34] on that. [0:35] What makes America the greatest country [0:37] in the world? [0:41] Well, Lewis and Sharon said it. [0:43] Diversity and opportunity and freedom [0:44] and freedom. [0:56] I'm not letting you go back to the [0:58] airport without answering the question. [1:11] Well, our Constitution is a masterpiece. [1:12] James Madison was a genius. The [1:14] Declaration of Independence is for me [1:16] the single greatest piece of American [1:18] writing. [1:22] You don't look satisfied. [1:25] One is a set of laws and the other's a [1:26] declaration of war. I want a human [1:29] moment from you. [1:34] What about the people? [1:36] Why is America [1:37] country in the world, Professor. That's [1:38] my answer. [1:43] You're saying you're [1:44] Yes. [1:46] Let's talk about [1:47] Fine. Sharon, the NEA is a loser. Yeah, [1:49] it accounts for a penny out of our [1:51] paycheck, but he gets to hit you with it [1:52] anytime he wants. It doesn't cost money. [1:54] It costs votes. It costs airtime and [1:56] column inches. You know why people don't [1:58] like liberals? Because they lose. [2:00] If liberals are so [ __ ] smart, how [2:01] come they lose so goddamn always? [2:03] Hey. [2:03] And with a straight face, you're going [2:04] to tell students that America is so [2:07] star-spangled awesome that we're the [2:09] only ones in the world who have freedom? [2:10] Canada has freedom. Japan has freedom. [2:13] The UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, [2:16] Australia, Belgium has freedom. So, 207 [2:20] sovereign states in the world, like 180 [2:22] of them have freedom. [2:22] All right. And yet you, sorority girl, [2:25] just in case you accidentally wander [2:26] into a voting booth one day, there's [2:27] some things you should know. And one of [2:28] them is [2:29] there is absolutely no evidence to [2:31] support the statement that we're the [2:32] greatest country in the world. We're [2:34] seventh in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd [2:36] in science, 49th in life expectancy, [2:39] 178th in infant mortality, third in [2:42] median household income, number four in [2:43] labor force, and number four in exports. [2:45] We lead the world in only three [2:47] categories: number of incarcerated [2:49] citizens per capita, number of adults [2:51] who believe angels are real, and defense [2:53] spending, where we spend more than the [2:54] next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom [2:57] are allies. Now, none of this is the [2:58] fault of a 20-year-old college student, [3:00] but you nonetheless are without a doubt [3:01] a member of the worst period generation [3:04] period ever period. So, when you ask [3:06] what makes us the greatest country in [3:08] the world, I don't know what the [ __ ] [3:09] you're talking about. [3:11] Yosemite? [3:25] Sure used to be. [3:27] We stood up for what was right. [3:30] We fought for moral reasons. We passed [3:33] laws, struck down laws for moral [3:35] reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not [3:37] poor people. [3:39] We sacrificed. We cared about our [3:41] neighbors. We put our money where our [3:42] mouths were, and we never beat our [3:44] chest. We built great big things, made [3:46] ungodly technological advances, explored [3:50] of universe, cured diseases, and we [3:53] cultivated the world's greatest artists [3:54] and the world's greatest economy. [3:59] We reached for the stars. [4:03] Acted like men. We aspired to [4:05] intelligence. We didn't belittle it. It [4:07] didn't make us feel inferior. [4:11] We didn't identify ourselves by who we [4:12] voted for in the last election, and we [4:14] didn't Oh, we didn't scare so easy. [4:21] We were able to be all these things and [4:22] do all these things because we were [4:24] informed [4:27] by great men, men who were revered. [4:32] First step in solving any problem is [4:33] recognizing there is one. [4:37] America is not the greatest country in [4:39] the world anymore. [4:46] Enough?