Power, Politics, and Paradox: Is America Still Number One?

The best movies often use a simple plot as a transcendent metaphor for a greater truth. Field of Dreams is one of those movies. 

When Terrence Man (James Earl Jones) talks about baseball and America, we learn that the field of dreams (America) is “all that was once good and it could be again.”

He describes the American dynamic as a blackboard that has been erased, rebuilt, and erased again. Such a perspective guides us toward retrospection, introspection, and evaluation. 

Let’s begin with happiness. America comes in 24th out of 147 in the 2025 World Popular Review Happiest Country rankings, which isn’t too shabby when you consider that half the people in America have a pathological hatred for its president and one of the most divided countries in the world. In addition, our ranked neighbors include Germany, the United Kingdom, and—surprisingly—Belize.

On the plus side, there are some significant firsts. We have the strongest military in the world, which keeps our citizens safe and sits at the ready to help others. Based on annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we have the strongest economy in the world. 

The wealth generated by this production clearly rises to the top. America’s wealth inequality is highest among the G8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia (suspended), the UK, and the USA).

That’s not a Number 1 to be proud of. How we address this harshness of capitalism going forward should be one of our highest priorities. I hope we accomplish this as a function of opportunity and not wholesale redistribution of funds from the wealthy. 

Opportunity, after all, is the American way, and opportunity is the pathway to the American Dream. 

Well, it certainly has been. 

The American Dream is alive and well, but it is starting to show some age. A study by the Archbridge Institute found that “69% of Americans say they have either achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieving it. Only 30% of people think the American Dream is out of reach.”

The study also indicated that most Americans (66%) believe in the American Dream and that this shared belief can be a unifying factor to reunite America. I believe this is true, but there is a redefining of how the American Dream is to be achieved. 

There is a notable shift in the acquisition process. Originally, the American Dream was achieved through opportunity by an individual and not collectively through the central government. The growing mindset is a shift from individualism to collectivism. The growing effort to eliminate wealth accumulation through taxation for distribution to poorer Americans through social programs is a prevalent example. 

Whether or not this shift will help recharge the American Dream by raising the floor and making it more attainable is hard to say. Such an undertaking should be guided by the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said, “If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.” 

Once again, the wisdom of our Founding Fathers speaks to us today. 

You can’t assess the American Dream without considering income, particularly middle-class income. America has the 3rd highest median middle-class income in the world behind Luxembourg and Switzerland. America also ranks second for career earnings behind Switzerland. Switzerland and Luxembourg have a combined population of about 9.5 million. The U.S. population is 340 million. Scope does matter.

As we all know, with income comes taxes. The U.S. has the most progressive tax system in the world (Cato Institute). As a result, the top 10% of taxpayers pay around 70% of the total individual income tax collected. This is more than any other country. 

The tax burden in the U.S. is shouldered by the wealthy; the bottom 50% is responsible for only about 3% of the federal income tax receipts collected. 

Unlike many other companies, our tax dollars do not go to fund a single-payer healthcare system. One of America’s greatest paradoxes is healthcare. America ranks Number 1 in technical research and medical science development and last in access to those services. When Americans are asked about priorities, healthcare cost is always near the top of the list. 

The U.S. model for healthcare is consistent with its general philosophy on social programs—lower taxes, high individual earning potential, and individual responsibility. The European/Nordic model prioritizes economic stability and a guaranteed "floor" for all citizens. 

The numbers bear this out, as expressed in percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is used because it represents all spending from public, private, and federal resources.

America spends 18-20% of its GDP on healthcare. The 38 mostly industrialized countries in the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) average 10%. Nordic and European countries spend about the same. 

While this may look good on the surface, it isn’t. It means that America spends twice as much on a healthcare system that has poorer results than the other countries mentioned—lower life expectancy, higher percentage of infant and maternal mortality, chronic illnesses, more avoidable hospital admissions, and obesity.

Medicare is there to help the senior population, and Medicaid aids the indigent. The gap in between is filled with private insurance and employer-sponsored insurance. 

Around 90% of Americans have health insurance, meaning coverage isn’t the issue. The issues are the expense and quality of coverage, which many believe can be resolved with a single-payer system (Medicare for All). 

According to survey data, 65% of Americans support a single-payer system. Sadly, the issue isn’t American support; it’s yet another issue on the political divide. Support by the Democrats is near 80%, and support by the Republicans is close to 40%. 

American hearts are in the right place, but providing them with universal healthcare is a complicated issue further complicated by politics. 

We do, however, find plenty of money for our military. Our military comes at a significant cost—for 2026 that cost is $1 trillion. Though I truly despise exhuming the body of Ronald Reagan for an economic autopsy, sometimes the most unpleasant actions are necessary. 

America’s military budget increased by 35% under Reagan (1981–1989)—the price of having the world’s best military and an adversary (Russia) close behind. Though some will disagree, Reagan and his Star Wars initiative contributed to the end of the Cold War. This military buildup initiative, which included militarizing outer space, effectively ran the Russian space program out of money. 

The world could breathe much easier when America technically won the Cold War. 

And to breathe healthy air. The one-two punch of politics and paradox also makes its way into the U.S. efforts to combat climate change. The U.S. is a global leader in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)—the process of removing CO₂ from the air for reuse. 

From global leader to middle of the pack, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), produced by Yale and Columbia Universities, uses 58 indicators to measure "environmental health" and "ecosystem vitality." The U.S. typically ranks in the mid-60s (specifically 65th–69th) among 180 countries.

Let’s explore another American first. Generosity. In dollar amounts, America provides about $63 billion in foreign aid. This is the highest of any country and almost twice as much as its closest competitor (Germany, $33 billion). 

Moving from foreign aid to domestic aid, the U.S. has more immigrants in its population than any other country in the world—over 53 million. We are still the world’s "melting pot,” aside from the deportation efforts beginning in 2025. The U.S. hosts roughly 17% of the world's total international immigrants, despite representing only about 4% of the global population.

The U.S. remains a beacon of freedom, a bastion of individual rights, and a place that welcomes those who legally cross our borders.

Regarding individual rights, the U.S. judicial system is considered the most "individual-centric" legal framework in the world, founded on the Enlightenment-era principle of natural, unalienable rights; no person or government can take away those rights. Natural rights aren’t granted by the government; they are protected by the government.

The nexus of immigrant deportation and natural rights has challenged one of our Constitution's founding principles—due process. Through this contention, we have learned that the U.S. commitment to legal review and our commitment to the constitutional protections of our rights are still intact. 

Beginning in 2025, the Trump administration initiated a purge of undocumented immigrants, which denied these individuals due process. The Supreme Court in A.A.R.P. v. Trump affirmed due process protections for non-citizens. 

Education in the U.S. is yet another paradox. We have the best institutions of higher education in the world, but K-12 education lags behind. Our universities produce some of the greatest research and innovations in the world, while our K-12 education ranks 18th to 34th. America is strong in reading and science but trails Asia and Europe in mathematics. 

As we know, not all states are the same, and this applies to education. There are actually 10 states that rival the top international schools in K-12 education: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wisconsin, Virginia, New York, Utah, and Maryland.

And, finally, we come to freedom of speech and expression. With the First Amendment's firm ban on government interference, the U.S. maintains what many regard as the highest global standard for the legal protection of free expression.

The development of near-absolute freedom starts with James Madison and the drafting process of the First Amendment. Madison’s original draft began with “The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak . . .”

In the final draft, the words "Congress shall make no law" are included at the beginning. 

Why is this change so significant? In the original draft, it is unclear as to whom the prohibition of deprivation or abridgment is directed. 

This change clearly establishes that the government is explicitly prohibited from taking away the rights enumerated in the First Amendment. These rights are our natural rights. No human grants these rights; therefore, no human entity can criminalize these rights. These initial five words unambiguously establish that no law of man can supersede natural law. 

We the people as a society are responsible for the boundaries of speech and what we tolerate as acceptable. The First Amendment charges we the people to police freedom of religion, free speech, and a free press.

Our obligation is to never presume to take away these rights from others or to impose our standards, beliefs, and viewpoints we apply to ourselves on others. 

This is not simply a code of conduct. It’s the preservation of our natural state of freedom. 

It’s the role of the people to exercise it. Because Americans have the most protected freedoms of expression, they have the greatest responsibility. 

The onus is on the people, as evidenced in the events surrounding President Trump’s second term.

When President Trump tried to shut down the talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for his disparaging remarks about Trump, the people spoke by canceling subscriptions to ABC-affiliated streaming services. 

ABC responded by re-airing the show and extending “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for another year. 

Just like the No Kings protests. When I see all those people expressing their dissatisfaction with Trump, it makes me proud to be an American. 

Americans standing up for what they believe is what made America what it is. A place of freedom—the freedom to express what we believe in words and actions. 

I’m sure many have heard of this sentiment: “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Those words define what America is and what America will always be, thanks to the people with the commitment and passion of the ones mentioned here. 

So now we’ve come to it. Is America the Number 1 country in the world?

Yes, with this caveat: America has a political system that represses our ability to flourish. Two parties. Right and Left. Conservative and Progressive. We’ve turned into a rivalry football game on a national level, ensuring that at least half of us will be dissatisfied with our government nearly all the time.

Within that political framework, however, are American people. I have consummate faith in the strength of the American people and the Constitution that guides our nation. America is strong enough to face the challenges it has faced in the past, in the present, and in the future. 

As Jefferson said, “On similar ground it may be proved that no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation.”

We the people control our destiny, and those people are our greatest asset. 

I will finish with one of my favorite stories about America. It comes from Gerda Weissmann Klein, a Holocaust survivor who spent three years in Nazi concentration camps. 

In recounting her rescue: “I stood in the doorway of that factory, and I knew I was free. I saw a strange car coming down the hill with the white star of the American army on its hood.”

That, my friends, is the very essence of America. 

Albert DeSimone

Bishop