May 6, 2025

America: #1 in Power - Dead Last in Compassion?

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"America dominates the world in wealth and power... but when it comes to healthcare, safety, and opportunity, the cracks run deeper than slogans suggest."

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Bigger Table. Today we delve into the often unquestioned notion of America's supremacy. Through a series of thought-provoking discussions, we explore what it truly means for the United States to be "number one." While America leads in military spending and boasts an impressive array of billionaires, these successes come at significant societal costs.

We begin by examining America's unparalleled investment in defense. With a budget exceeding the combined spend of the next ten countries, we discuss the implications of this dominance on its citizens' everyday lives, particularly when compared to the Canadian perspective. Our analysis highlights the stark choices faced by billions: between defense and critical social services like healthcare and education.

The conversation doesn't stop at military might. We dig deep into America's cultural influence and the extravagant wealth seen in tech giants and private endeavors. This contrasts sharply with Canada's more equitably distributed wealth, providing its citizens with a steadier path to economic stability. We also tackle the struggles of America's healthcare system, where expenditures don't always translate into results. Despite its heavy spending, the U.S. lags behind Canada and other nations in healthcare access and outcomes.

Education is another area under scrutiny. Despite its immense resources, America's global educational standing is surprisingly middle-tier, highlighting systemic issues such as student debt and underpaid teachers. Moreover, we discuss the serious social issues such as child poverty and gun violence that plague American communities, exploring how Canada's policies offer a beacon of hope for more balanced and humane governance.

This episode paints a complex picture of America—a nation rich in opportunity and innovation yet riddled with profound inequities and challenges. Through this critical comparison, we hope to spark meaningful conversations about national identity, global leadership, and what truly constitutes progress and prosperity. Join us as we interrogate these pressing issues, appreciating the powerful lessons Canada offers in crafting a fairer, more inclusive society.

00:09 - Introduction to Bigger Table

02:04 - Health Care Comparisons

03:13 - Education Disparities

04:14 - The Reality of Gun Violence

05:09 - Work-Life Balance Insights

06:09 - The Question of National Identity

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They say America is number one, but when you peel back the layers,

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you have to ask, number one in what exactly?

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You're listening to Bigger Table, where more chairs, fewer walls,

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and greater progress aren't just a slogan.

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They're the mission. Let's get into it.

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Sure, the slogans are loud, the flags are big, and the swagger is undeniable.

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But beneath the fireworks and the anthem, there's a more complicated truth which

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millions of people quietly live every day.

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And if you ask Canadians whether they'd want to be America's 51st state,

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the answer, spoken politely but firmly, would still be a resounding, no thanks, eh?

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Let's talk about why. In military spending, America doesn't just lead, it dominates. the U.S.

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Spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined, over $800 billion a year.

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It buys the world's biggest navy, advanced jets, and military bases on nearly every continent.

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So yes, America is number one there, no debate.

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But most Canadians look at that massive spending and wonder,

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what if even a fraction of that went into healthcare, education,

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or child poverty programs.

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The U.S. is also number one in billionaires. The wealthiest people on the planetâMusk,

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Bezos, Buffettâare American icons.

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Private spaceflights, mega mansions, and trillion-dollar tech giants.

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That's the American dream at its most extreme.

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While we certainly have our share of millionaires in Canada,

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the wealth gap is less crushing.

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And every day people have a better shot at stability without winning the economic lottery.

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You can't ignore America's cultural reach either. Marvel movies,

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McDonald's Golden Arches, Coca-Cola, American culture floods the world from

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billboards to cinema screens.

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But power and influence don't always mean prosperity for everyone.

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Let's talk about health care. The U.S. spends more per person on health care

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than any country in the world.

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Yet it ranks last among 11 wealthy nations for access, efficiency, and health outcomes.

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Half a million Americans go bankrupt every year, just for medical bills.

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In contrast, Canada ranks second among wealthy nations for health care outcomes.

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A hospital stay here won't cost you your home, and prescription medications are affordable.

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Ask a Canadian if they would trade systems. You'll get a polite chuckle and a definite no thanks.

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Now, let's talk about education.

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Despite its immense wealth, the U.S. ranks 17th in reading, 37th in math,

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and 18th in science among developed nations.

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Student debt has shackled an entire generation, and teachers are woefully underpaid.

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Canada consistently ranks within the top 10 in education globally.

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University tuition is dramatically lower, and students graduate without the

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crushing six-figure debt that burdens so many Americans.

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What about child poverty? The U.S.

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Has the second-highest child poverty rate among wealthy nations,

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with one in six children living below the poverty line.

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That's over 12 million kids facing food insecurity and unstable housing.

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In Canada, the child poverty rate is nearly half that of the U.S.,

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Still a challenge, but a far better starting point for a child's future.

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Now, infant mortality. In America, babies are more likely to die before their

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first birthday than in Cuba, Slovenia, or Canada.

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The U.S. ranks 33rd among developed nations for infant survival.

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Canada ranks around 17th, offering newborns nearly twice the chance of making

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it to their first birthday.

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It's a brutal statistic, and one that hits at the very heart of national priorities.

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Let's face another harsh reality, gun violence.

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The U.S. leads the developed world in gun deaths, by a mile.

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Over 40,000 lives lost every year, and school shootings have become so common

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they barely register on national news.

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In Canada, guns exist, but school shootings are rare. Gun deaths are a fraction

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of what they are in the U.S.

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And most Canadians can't imagine living with the daily fear that American families endure.

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Safety isn't just luck, it's policy.

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You're listening to Bigger Table, where progress is made, one conversation at

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a time. Let's keep building.

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Now let's talk about work-life balance. Americans work more hours per year than

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almost anyone else in the industrialized world.

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There is no guaranteed paid vacation, universal child care, or federally mandated parental leave.

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In Canada, paid parental leave is expected. Vacations are the norm.

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An exhaustion isn't worn like a badge of honor, it's seen for what it is,

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a warning sign that something's broken.

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How about the wealth gap? In America, the top 1% control more wealth than the bottom 90% combined.

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Since the 1970s, CEO pay has skyrocketed by over 1,000%, while average worker

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wages have barely moved.

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Canada also struggles with inequality, but the ladder isn't quite so steep.

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And when people fall, there's at least some social safety net to catch them.

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And then incarceration. The U.S. imprisons more people than any other country,

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over 2 million behind bars.

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More than Russia, more than China, more than any dictatorship you can name.

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In Canada, incarceration rates are far lower. and there's a greater focus on

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rehabilitation instead of endless punishment.

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When Canadians say they don't want to become the 51st state,

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they're not being smug, they're being honest.

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So when Americans chant, we're number one, maybe the real question should be, in what?

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Because yes, the U.S. is number one in military might and billionaires.

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But when it comes to life expectancy, where the U.S.

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Ranks 46th while Canada ranks 16th, or infant mortality, or child poverty,

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or gun deaths, the story shifts dramatically.

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It's not about hating America, it's about caution and realism.

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Canadians admire America's innovation, ambition, and cultural power.

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But they also see the cracksâinequality, burnout, and endless struggle for survival.

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And we're not eager to import that.

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Because in Canada, for all our flaws, most of us still believe that government

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can help people, that health care shouldn't bankrupt families,

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and that compassion is a strength, not a weakness.

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Because behind the slogans and the swagger, there is a deeper truth waiting to be faced.

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And sometimes, the most patriotic thing you can do is to question the story you've been told.

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Till next time, this is Abby signing off from The Bigger Table.

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Thanks for pulling up a chair at Bigger Table. If you believe in more voices,

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fewer walls, and real progress, please help us grow.

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Follow, review, and share this podcast.

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Until next time, keep building a bigger table.

America: #1 in Power - Dead Last in Compassion?

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