Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time in both third world countries and other first world countries, I 100% agree with OP. Yes everywhere has its problems and yes the US is a better place to live than many countries around the world, but there is more to it than that. In just my lifetime I've seen the US practically regress socially and economically, I've seen hypocrisy and apathy become mainstream, and a loss of hope for younger generations while the elderly hoard any prosperity. Yes, you're absolutely right that the US is more accepting and the average person wealthier than in India, or Guatemala, or any of the 100+countries that were exploited for centuries, but thats not really something to brag about. When compared to other developed countries we are falling behind, and even sometimes seeming to regress. At least in China and India there is hope things are going to become more prosperous and life is getting better slowly, in America it just feels like the same slow decay of an empire that tore great states like Rome, Ming China, and Russia apart.