People Are Sharing Things America Actually Gets Right

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9 hours ago

It's easy to focus on what's wrong with America — from healthcare costs to political polarization, there's no shortage of criticism. But when u/Ulrich-Stern asked, "What does the United States get right?" the responses revealed a surprising side of the country that often gets overlooked. From the simple brilliance of gas station convenience stores to groundbreaking scientific research that touches lives worldwide, people from around the globe chimed in with genuine appreciation for things America does exceptionally well. Here are 27 things that might just make you see the US in a whole new light:
"Our public libraries are a real backbone of the country. Andrew Carnegie's groundwork in building the institution of free libraries, even in small towns, set a precedent that we wouldn't fathom today but couldn't live without. They often serve not only as an information exchange but as a cultural hub, art gallery, performing arts center, tax aide, voter registration site, job resource center, etc., in communities. Plus, they're one of the only places you can just exist for hours indoors without the expectation that you must buy something. And I feel like they've adapted to the ever-changing needs of their patrons in modern times faster in the US than most places."
"Valuing actual wilderness in places like national parks. Here in England, they will 'restore' or 'create' natural habitats, which is sort of nice, but they are almost like zoos. They are too small to survive by themselves, so they are actively maintained. And in some English national parks, they actually allow housing developments as long as the architectural design is sympathetic. Here, 'countryside' means farms. There is still a notion in the US of protecting some large wilderness areas from development."
"Accessibility code for buildings. I come from a country where disability is looked upon like a crime or fault. The US does an amazing job of making things accessible. I haven't seen all of the US, but the majority of places have an amazing system."
"I see everyone bringing up the Americans with Disabilities Act and talking about how accessible our buildings are here in the United States. The ADA goes beyond that by so much more. I'm a relay operator for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Basically, my job enables folks who can't hear or hear well to use the phone. For a simplified overview: Using special equipment or a special mode on a cellphone, someone can connect to the relay service, give me a phone number, have me dial the number, and then read everything the other end says as I type it, verbatim. Then they type a response, and I read it out loud to the other end. The ADA also means that the burden is on the provider to provide a sign language interpreter at doctor's or hospital visits, not the patient."
"Americans just don't get enough love for being broadly nice-as-fuck people. I've traveled the US quite a bit, and almost everywhere you go, someone will strike up a convo and have a laugh."
"The US is an absolute science powerhouse. The technology we come out with has touched the lives of nearly every person on the planet."
"Films. Don't get me wrong, the US can put out some bad films, but the best ones I've seen are usually American."
"They do jazz very, very well."
"The rate of smoking cigarettes. We do very little well in the US when it comes to overall health, but we are light years better than most places when it comes to the prevalence of cigarette smoking. Hardcore anti-smoking ads, laws of inconvenience, and social stigma really did work."
"NASA!"
"Burgers. Motherfuckin' burgers."
"I've always envied your wildlife. I'm from England, and the only large wild animals (other than fish) we have are deer, boar and foxes. And they're incredibly rare. I've always thought it was so cool one country could have bears, moose, cougars, alligators, panthers, bison/buffalo, etc."
"I say this as an immigrant who came to this country, so perhaps take it with a grain of salt. But the US truly gives people a second chance at life. My life would be nowhere near as good as it is right now if I were back in my home country."
"As someone who was born in a country without democracy but has been fortunate enough to have lived in the US for a few years, I can't even begin. A lot of Americans don't even know how lucky they are just being American. They are already better off than the majority of the world's population."
"Gas stations like QuikTrip, where they have clean bathrooms, lighted parking lots, free air for your tires, 10 different coffees on tap, beer, hot dogs, any soft drink or snack you want — the list goes on. In other countries — you're not going to believe this — their gas stations only sell...gas."
"Aggressive self-determinism. Oh, your parents were abusive and you don't talk to them anymore? Fuck yeah, rad, good for you. Your partner couldn't give you the relationship you dreamed of having? Alright, rad, move on up. You hated your job and think your future is in being a movie star? Alright. You do you. Send me a premiere ticket."
"We may not have the strongest passport, but it's still a darn good passport to have — especially for traveling."
"Air conditioning."
"How friendly people are. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of friendly cultures, and plenty more hospitable ones than the US, but the sheer level of openness and genuine friendliness is something else in the US."
"The US postal system is the most far-reaching postal system in the world. We will deliver nearly anything to any mailbox. Do you live at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Say no more — postal donkeys."
"Although our healthcare system sucks, our pharmaceutical R&D is amazing and has produced so many medicines that have helped people worldwide."
"GPS. If you use it, it is most likely US satellites. GPS is the largest constellation."
"The amount of choices at the grocery store. It can be overwhelming, but most other countries don't have nearly the same amount of options for something as simple as 'potato chips.'"
"Public lands. Between the federal government park service, forest service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife lands, and various state and local public lands, there are several hundred million acres of opportunity for recreation like hiking, camping, birdwatching, biking, skiing, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, or whatever you like to do to enjoy nature."
"I love that in the US, if you go back to school at 40 or 50, no one blinks an eye. If you get a degree at 80 or 90, you are a total hero. In many cultures, you need to be done with school in your 20s. No one goes to school later in life."
"Military logistics."
"The interstate highway system. Blows my mind that I can get pretty much anywhere I want down there without having to take some roundabout route, and have ample places to stop and eat, use the bathroom, or refuel. Also, most people in the US actually follow the 'pass on the left, cruise right' rule, which is a rarity here in Canada."
So, what do you think America gets right that the rest of the world could learn from? Whether you're American or from another country, we want to hear your perspective. Share the things you genuinely appreciate about the US — or debate whether these examples really are as great as people say — in the comments below!