When July comes around, along with the sweltering heat, we also get to feeling a little patriotic. JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon’s Linkedin article highlights some of the reasons why America is still one of the best countries to live in. America boats one of the best militaries and two oceans on either sides that act as buffers. America is at peace with our neighbors. America is a lawful country with a strong legal and judicial system. Unlike several countries, even certain developed and developing countries, we enjoy low corruption levels, because generally Americans tend to be hardworking, honest and law-abiding. And our laws are not just for the books, they are fair, and are actually enforced. We have some of the best universities and hospitals – this is the go-to country where people from all over the world flock for medical treatment because of all that we continue to achieve in medical research and in the development of drugs and treatment programs.
Our innovative spirit combined with a can-do attitude makes Americans some of the best entrepreneurs in the world. Jamie credits everyone with that entrepreneurial spirit – from Steve Jobs to factory workers. America is one of the few countries in the world where almost anyone with drive and a recipe for success can thrive. A substantial number of our business moguls can boast of rags-to-riches stories, which means that anything is still possible in America. It really is a place where dreams can come true.
And despite the recent economic turmoil and the doom and gloom news, our financial system is still one of the deepest, widest and most transparent systems in the world. It is this well-oiled machine that feeds American businesses.
America is the great defender of democracy and freedom – something that other nations are still struggling to achieve even in the 21st century. And it is better today than it has ever been. We work hard to fine-tune our laws and legislation to keep up with an ever changing world, and afford deep respect and understanding for human rights – a luxury in some countries. We also enjoy some of the best public infrastructures in the world.
However, despite the fact that we have several reasons to wear our red, white and blue with pride, Dimon reminds us that we do not have a divine right to greatness and our past glory does not entitle us to guaranteed future success. Instead it must be earned or regained. We need to address serious issues like our immigration policies, failing education systems in inner cities, complicated tax laws, and a political system that appears to be in a gridlock, among others.
We are a resilient people living in a country with the greatest opportunities in the world.
