Let’s be real, America has always worn the “greatest country in the world” badge with pride. But lately, more people are asking themselves if that title still applies. Between rising costs, shaky politics, and a culture that sometimes appears to be running on fumes, even die-hard patriots will admit it doesn’t feel the same anymore.
In 2024, America’s national debt was $35.46 trillion, exceeding its GDP of $28.82 trillion and resulting in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 123%. This means the nation’s debt exceeded its annual economic output.
Economist Ray Dalio, in his analysis of historical power cycles, identifies excessive debt as a key marker of empire decline. He argues that nations often borrow heavily to maintain their lifestyles and global influence, but eventually face economic instability and diminished global standing.
The truth is, people aren’t just criticizing for the sake of it; they’re pointing out real cracks in the “American Dream” story we’ve all been sold.
Healthcare that costs a fortune
Everyone knows getting sick in America feels like a financial nightmare. A West Health-Gallup survey found that in 2024, 45% of Americans were classified as not Cost-Secure, meaning they couldn’t reliably afford or access basic healthcare and prescribed medications. This says a great deal about how broken the system appears.
Even with insurance, deductibles and unexpected bills can leave families struggling with debt. Other developed nations spend far less per person and still manage better overall outcomes. When you’re scared of the hospital bill more than the illness, it’s no wonder people start questioning greatness.
Sky-high student debt
Student loans have become a lifetime burden for millions. Americans, based on The Motley Fool, carry over $1.81 trillion in student loans, with the average borrower owing approximately $39,075.
That’s money that they could have spent on a home, savings, or just enjoying life without worrying. Younger generations, especially millennials and Gen Z, often feel like they’re being set up to fail before they even begin. It’s difficult to be patriotic when getting an education feels like a sentence.
The food system isn’t helping
America’s diet is running wild, from ultra-processed to limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The Global Statistics states that 40.3% of adult Americans are obese, more than double the rate of most affluent countries.
Grocery stores in impoverished communities often create food deserts, leaving some families without access to a nearby one. And the nutritious options are more expensive. It’s hard to take pride in being number one when your food is making people sick.
A broken political system
It’s not that individuals don’t agree, but it’s how bitter and polarized everything has become today. Pew Research shows that political polarization is at its highest in decades, with nearly 80% of Americans reporting that Republican and Democratic voters not only disagree on policies but cannot agree on basic facts.
Congressional paralysis means that issues never get addressed; they simply get discussed on cable TV. That leaves regular people stuck in the middle, exhausted and exasperated. When democracy seems more like a reality show, it is hard to be proud.
Rising inequality everywhere you look
The gap between the rich and the poor has been widening for decades, and people have taken notice. As noted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the top 20% of households now earn over 52% of all household income.
Meanwhile, wages for many working-class jobs haven’t kept up with inflation. That’s why you’ll see luxury apartments going up next to homeless encampments—it’s jarring. This extreme inequality makes the American Dream feel out of reach.
Expensive housing markets
Buying a home used to be the ultimate symbol of success in America. Today, it’s a dream for most. As of mid-2025, the median home price for single-family homes in America is approximately $462,206, but wages have remained relatively unchanged.
Younger generations are locked out, paying rent well into their 30s or 40s, with little chance of saving enough for a down payment. When shelter is a luxury, folks naturally begin to ask, “What happened to this country?”
Healthcare workers are burning out
It’s not just patients who are feeling the pressure; physicians and nurses are also exhausted. Shortages, understaffing, and perpetual demand result in people not getting the care they need.
The cycle only works to increase costs and prolong wait times. If those saving lives are leaving the system, then something is seriously wrong.
The gun violence epidemic
The rest of the world looks on at America’s gun violence problem and can only shake its head. America has more civilian-owned guns than people, according to Ammo estimates, with around 500 million to a little over 340 million people. That’s roughly 1.5 per person and nearly 1.9 per adult.
Mass shootings, which were uncommon, now seem horribly normal. There were 18,874 gun deaths (excluding suicides) and 36,357 firearm injuries in the United States alone in 2023, data reveals. It’s difficult to refer to a country as “the greatest” when children are required to practice active-shooter drills at school.
Infrastructure that’s falling apart
Bridges, highways, and airports, most of these are older than our parents. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. infrastructure a C in its most recent report card. That makes potholes, delays, infrequent and unreliable public transport, and crumbling water systems just a way of life.
ASCE calculates a $3.7 trillion deficit in the next ten years to put infrastructure into good working condition. Meanwhile, travelers coming back from Japan, Germany, or even parts of South America are stunned at how dated things feel here. For such a wealthy nation, it’s shameful.
The cost of higher education keeps climbing
While student debt is already a significant issue, colleges continue to raise tuition as if it doesn’t matter. Over the past 40 years, the average tuition at public universities has increased by more than three times. It stood at approximately $3,200 per year in 1982–83, but by 2024–25, it had increased to $11,610, based on data collated by the College Board.
That’s a 263% increase, way outpacing inflation or pay increases. If tuition had only kept pace with inflation, students today would be paying around $9,705 instead. Parents are often trapped, forced into debt, or do not attend college at all.
It creates a vicious cycle where fewer people have opportunities, and the economy suffers as a result. No wonder so many are wondering why education feels like a privilege, not a right.
A work culture that never stops
In America, work is often seen as a reflection of one’s entire identity. The United States is the only major industrialized nation without mandated paid vacation time, and the average employee receives only 11 days of paid time off per year. Compare that to France’s 30 days, and it’s not surprising Americans feel drained.
Remote work has brought a bit of a reprieve, but many are scaling it back. When you’re constantly exhausted, you don’t feel like residing in the “greatest country.” You just feel tired.
Declining trust in institutions
Folks just don’t trust large systems anymore like they used to, from the government to the media to the banks. Edelman’s 2024 Trust Barometer indicated that only 50% of Americans have confidence in the government to do the right thing.
Scandals, misinformation, and outright corruption make citizens cynical. Without trust, even well-intentioned reforms are doomed to fail. It’s hard to love a nation when you don’t believe its leaders have your best interests in mind.
Healthcare tied to your job
This is one of those oddly American headaches. In other nations, health care is separate from work, but here, job loss equals coverage loss. That puts people into a state of fear of career changes or business pursuits.
A Union Healthcare Insight report indicates that as of 2025, nearly 54% of Americans utilize employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) for their coverage. Greatness shouldn’t have strings attached to your paycheck.
U.S. life expectancy falls behind other nations
Americans used to take pride in the fact that they lived longer than people in other countries. But not anymore. The United States now lags behind other developed nations in life expectancy, despite spending more per capita on healthcare than any peer country.
Even with a partial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. remains behind its peers by an average of 4.1 years, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Rising drug overdoses, chronic illness, and poor access to healthcare are all main culprits. A country losing years of life instead of gaining them makes everyone question its “greatness.”
Climate disasters are hitting harder
Wildfires, hurricanes, floods, America has been beaten up over the last few years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded 28 individual billion-dollar disasters in 2023 alone, the most billion-dollar disasters in a single year on record.
Communities are rebuilding constantly, often with little long-term support. And while climate change is a global issue, many feel that America hasn’t done enough to protect its people. It’s tough to call a place great when homes keep getting washed or burned away.
The fading American dream
At its core, the “greatest country” claim rested on opportunity. Work hard, and you’ll do better than your parents. That was the promise.
But Pew Research says that nearly three-quarters of Americans anticipate their children will be worse off financially than they are. For many people, hope has become a survival mode. And when hope disappears, pride goes with it.
Key takeaways
Economic pressures are crushing people. Out-of-control student loans, unaffordable housing, skyrocketing tuition, and growing inequality make financial security and possibility an out-of-reach dream for many.
Healthcare is failing both patients and providers. The American system keeps people stressed, sick, or deep in debt, from sky-high prices and job-locked insurance to staff burnout and suboptimal outcomes.
Broken systems breed distrust. Polarization, loss of faith in institutions, deteriorated infrastructure, and the unseen cost of living bring citizens to a cynicism about leadership and change.
Quality of life is slipping. Gun shootings, low life expectancy, too much work, diet for disaster, worsening climate disasters, and a vanishing American Dream make people question whether the U.S. can still be called the “greatest.”
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
16 grocery staples to stock up on before prices spike again
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
I was in the grocery store the other day, and it hit me—I’m buying the same things I always do, but my bill just keeps getting higher. Like, I swear I just blinked, and suddenly eggs are a luxury item. What’s going on?
Inflation, supply-chain delays, and erratic weather conditions have modestly (or, let’s face it, dramatically) pushed the prices of staples ever higher. The USDA reports that food prices climbed an additional 2.9% year over year in May 2025—and that’s after the inflation storm of 2022–2023.
So, if you’ve got room in a pantry, freezer, or even a couple of extra shelves, now might be a good moment to stock up on these staple groceries—before the prices rise later.
6 gas station chains with food so good it’s worth driving out of your way for
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hot dogs of indeterminate age and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it becomes part of a routine or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food information you need.
Let’s look at six gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat.
