People Explain Which Things The United States Actually Gets Right

I think America certainly has a strong work ethic. We know how to work and win.

Getting Around

"Accessibility code for buildings. I come from a country where disability is looked upon like a crime or fault. USA does an amazing job making things accessible. I haven’t seen all of USA but majority of the places has amazing system."

snreddit87

The Backbone

"Our public libraries are a real backbone for the country."

"Andrew Carnegie's groundwork in building the institution of free libraries, even in small towns, set a precedent that we wouldn't fathom today but couldn't live without. They often serve not only as an information exchange but as cultural hub, art gallery, performing arts center, tax aid, voter registration, job resources, etc. in communities."

"Plus they're one of the only places you can just exist for hours indoors without the expectation you must buy something.And I feel like they've adapted to the ever-changing needs of their patrons in modern times faster in the US than most places."

"'A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.' -Andrew Carnegie"

fadedVHS

'restore' or 'create'

"Valuing actual wilderness in places like national parks. Here in England, they will 'restore' or 'create' natural habitats, which is sort-of nice, but they are almost like zoos. They are too small to survive by themselves so they are actively maintained."

"And in some English national parks, they actually allow housing developments as long as the architectural design is sympathetic. Here, 'countryside"'means farms. There is still a notion in the USA of protecting some large wilderness areas from development."

anon5005

Nicotine Fiends

"The rate of smoking cigarettes. We do very little well in the US when it comes to overall health, but we are light years better than most places when it comes to the prevalence of cigarette smoking. Hardcore anti smoking adds + laws of inconvenience + social stigma really did work."

pasta_sauce87

Hollywood

"Films. Don't get me wrong, the US can put out some bad films, but the best ones I've seen are usually American."

ConcreteGardoki

We do do films well. That is a big plus.

Family

"The United States adopts more children than the rest of the world combined."

noodles43r

The Menu

"Burgers. Motherfreakin' burgers."

ProfessorRoyHinkley

"I'd expand that to sandwiches in general. Burgers, Philly cheese steaks, Reubens, subs, clubs, chopped cheese, po'boys, just this whole sandwich spectrum. Americans just took sandwich concepts from across the globe and ran with them."

gurnard

Natural Beauty

"I've always envied your wildlife. I'm from England and the only large wild animals (other than fish) we have are deer, boar and foxes. And they're incredibly rare. I've always thought it was so cool one country could have bears, moose, cougars, alligators, panthers, bison/buffalo, etc."

gateman33

Quickies

"Gas stations like QuikTrip, where they have clean bathrooms, lighted parking lots, free air for your tires, ten different coffees on tap, beer, hotdogs, any soft drink or snack you want, the list goes on. In other countries -- you're not gonna believe this -- their gas stations only sell... gas."

Blort_McFluffuhgus

POWER

"The US is an absolute science powerhouse. The technology we come out with has touched the lives of nearly every person on the planet."

AmericanHoneycrisp

Welcome

"I say this as an immigrant who came to this country, so perhaps take it with a grain of salt. But it truly gives people a second chance at life. My life would be nowhere near as good as it is right now if I were back in my home country."

Porongas1993

Maybe America isn't the hot mess a lot of people think it is. We'll see...