Is America number one?

[Incognito]

Personally, no, it is not. It also depends on what metric you use to determine "number 1." If the amount of defense and the capability to conduct war is important to you, then we lead the world by and large. If the advancement of math and science is your priority, then we fall far behind.

And for the record, Sorkin's research team should redo their work as the numbers spouted off in the video are inaccurate. #15 in literacy, #35 in math scores (if you want to use that as a measure for overall math), #29 in science scores (same measure to use as math), #49 in life expectancy (the video got this one right), #180 in infant mortality, but these are all moot points.

The real point is that the U.S. is strongest in the misguided areas and if the more critical ones that are vital to our progression aren't given considerable attention, we'll be just another blip on the global radar.

[BrianAlt]

Where is the US on innovation?

It's remarkable that in spite of lagging in math and science somehow innovation still tends to flourish.

[picard102]

Originally Posted by BrianAlt

Where is the US on innovation?

#10, behind super powers like Ireland.

[dEadERest]

Originally Posted by picard102

#10, behind super powers like Ireland.

this

[BrianAlt]

Originally Posted by picard102

#10, behind super powers like Ireland.

Not sure how that's computed, but 10 is pretty high for a country that sucks in math and science.