I’m putting my finishing touches on this column the day before Thanksgiving, knowing it will be read days or maybe weeks after the holiday. Originally I was going to mention all the things I am thankful for, and there are many, because it serves as a reminder that we all have much to be grateful for. But I decided that I am only going to focus on one because I truly believe it is something many people—particularly the younger generations—are losing sight of.
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful to be an American and live here in the United States.
Look, I get it. Open Instagram, Facebook and even LinkedIn for five minutes and you’ll find 1,000 reasons why people think America sucks. The healthcare system is expensive. Politicians can’t agree on what day it is, let alone how to fix anything. The roads have potholes. Our education system could be better. And, yes, there are real problems we need to address.
I know this country is not perfect. But warts and all, the U.S. is still the best country to be a part of and we should be very thankful. People tend to forget we all share the most important thing: freedom. Maybe the haters need to spend a year in Africa, the Middle East, Russia or North Korea to get some real perspective.
Here’s what drives me crazy about the constant doom scrolling and America bashing: We’ve completely lost perspective on what we have here. Despite all our challenges, America remains the best country in the world to live in. Period. We are the unchallenged land of plenty, and perhaps the land of plenty of too much. In many countries there are always shortages. There are always lines. Electricity and fresh water are not always readily available. There is never enough of anything.
Let me give you four reasons millions around the globe would trade places with you tomorrow, even on your worst day:
1. Economic opportunity that exists nowhere else. Here’s a simple test: Name another country where a kid from a poor family can start a business in their garage and become a billionaire. Where immigrants arrive with nothing and build generational wealth. Where you can literally reinvent yourself professionally at any age.
The opportunity structure exists here in ways that simply don’t exist elsewhere. In most countries, your economic future is largely predetermined by your family’s social class. In America, social mobility is real—sometimes unfair—but real.
2. Freedom that most of the world can only dream about. We’ve become so used to our freedoms that we forget how rare they are. You can criticize the government without disappearing. You can practice any religion or none at all. You can move to any state, start any legal business, marry who you want and live however you choose.
Try that in most of the world. In China, you can’t even Google freely. In Russia, journalists get poisoned for asking questions. In Saudi Arabia, women only recently got the right to drive. In much of Europe, you can be fined for offensive speech. Even in supposedly “free” countries like the UK, people get arrested for social media posts.
Here’s what freedom looks like: You can decide you hate your job, quit, move across the country and start completely over. You can write a book criticizing the president. You can protest in the streets. You can own property. You can arm yourself for protection. Most people in this world couldn’t imagine this.
3. Innovation and excellence that defines the future. Where was the internet invented? The COVID-19 vaccines that saved millions of lives? Modern aviation? GPS? The list goes on and on: America. Our universities consistently rank as the world’s best. The most talented people from every country come here to study and work. When there’s a global crisis, everyone looks to American innovation for solutions. Other countries can copy our technology, but they can’t replicate the culture that creates it.
4. Resilience that’s built into our DNA. America has been through wars, economic depressions, social upheavals and more—and each time we’ve emerged stronger. Why? Because we’re built for adaptation and renewal. Our political system, for all its flaws, has peaceful transfers of power. Our economy bounces back from recessions. Our culture constantly evolves and improves. We fixed slavery, gave women the vote, ended segregation and continue working on becoming a more perfect union.
We argue loudly about our problems, which drives me crazy. In authoritarian countries, problems get swept under the rug until they explode. In America, we hash them out in public.
So here’s what I say to the haters: If you genuinely believe America is a terrible place, you have options. Planes, trains and boats leave every day. Canada is right next door. Europe would love to have you. There are 194 other countries to choose from. But here’s what I suspect: For all the complaining, most people know they’ve got it pretty good here.
America isn’t perfect. It never has been, and it never will be. But it’s still the best option humanity has created for building a life of opportunity, freedom and dignity. Here’s an idea: Instead of focusing on what’s broken, maybe it’s time to appreciate what’s working. And if you still can’t see it, there’s always somewhere else to go.
So on this Thanksgiving, I am thankful to live in the United States, and you should be, too.
