What is your list of the 3 Greatest Countries?

Soldato
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In 'your' opinion, what are the three greatest countries in this world. With a description as to why. BUT..... You need to also come up with three cons.

Here's my list.

1.\ USA
Great varied terrain types from mountains to amazing forests / canyons. For someone into the wilderness. The USA has it all. Great to be part of the biggest economy in the world, where technology typically gets released first. Huge choices of where to live. Bigger being better in terms of cities, housing, cars (for the most part) I love living here and wouldn't ever go back to Europe (unless I was sick) Great TV shows and the best movie database ! People are for the most part, really nice and welcoming. Amazing customer service everywhere you go. Less stupid rules and laws telling you how to lead your life. (depending on which state of course)

CON 1: The healthcare is way too geared towards making money, rather than actual care. I hate to think of all those poor people, who find out there sick, and know they're going to be financially cleaned out because of it. That's just wrong and it needs to be fixed.

CON 2: The weather can be extreme where ever you are.

CON 3: Americans do lack history and culture and are more easily led than other nations. Example there's a pill for everything. Also, a large percentage of its population also follow religion, showing how easily led they can be.

2.\ France
Once again, great varied terrain. Beautiful weather with low risk of impending disaster. Amazing food. Stunning beaches. France is truly one of the greatest countries in the world, with its class a healthcare, longevity of its citizens. History and culture. Best trains in the western world. I loved visiting the place. It has always excited me.

CON 1: The place can be a little dirty at times. The roads are littered in dog poop, cos no-one picks it up. Graffiti is rife as is petty crime.

CON 2: The French people can be a little difficult at times. I'd say they come across as a little more arrogant than other nations I've visited. Not to say they're all like that. It's just I seem to have come across more arrogance while in France, than say other places.

CON 3: Everything shuts down on a Sunday and this day and age, that's unacceptable and backwards. Nothing more annoying than everything shut when you need something, then and there.

3.\ Great Britain.
My third favorite country in the whole wide world. Why cos i'm British ! Perhaps not as proud as many others, since I did actually bugger off from the place, never to return, but it was my home for 30yrs and i always enjoy coming back for a pint ! What's great about Great Britain? The people for the most part are more grounded, better educated, not as easily led. Weather, maybe not the best, but it isn't gonna kill ya ! Which truly is a plus, when you live somewhere and there's little threat of your entire hometown being wiped off the face of the map, by a natural disaster its a plus trust me!. Free healthcare, even though it has its issues, you're not going to have to worry about financial distress in the event of an illness. Great cities. (well London at least) Great countryside. Lots of history and culture.

CON 1: Well where do we start? Probably for me, is the chav / ever increasing hooligan element, that isn't 'as' present in other countries. It does bring the place down, and is what is unfortunately advertised all other the world, when it all kicks off.

CON 2: Feels like everyone is on the take. Britain is a very giving nation, and boy do people abuse it. Council flats given to those who least deserve it. Why work when it can be had for free attitude from the lowerclass. High taxes, over priced housing. The saying Rip off Britain really fits the bill at times.

CON 3: The country itself can be a bit boring. Perhaps its just me, with a seen it and done it attitude, but I was 'never' excited to go visit a new town or new part of the country. This is coming from someone who's visited most of the country as part of my job. Architecturally, its pretty bland for the most part. Apart from some of the listed historical places. Rows and rows of houses all looking the same, it can give off the impression of being a bit depressing.

As mentioned above, this in 'MY' list. Don't flame me, just interested in hearing what everyone else's is. Japan and Germany could have also made it on this list.. If i wasn't British :P
 
Disney World. It's a world in a country FFS! Big eared mice the size of humans and as much junk food as you could want and each day they are dancing in the street. They even have space in a mountain!!
 
Still separate countries though.

Back to the Op there are so many variables to consider. From a purely historical point of view id rate Italy (Rome) as being up there.
 
Technically Great Britain isn't a country.

Are you talking about England, Scotland or Wales?

Technically Westminster rule both Scotland and Wales.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Can we keep this on topic.

I've heard Canada is really nice.

Tbh, I've not seen enough of the world to really judge other countries. Two weeks/few months away aren't long enough to understand a country properly. I like here enough not to want to find out though :)
 
1. Canada, why? Because I've been there and loved everything about it.

2. USA, why? See above, slightly less awesome but still a country of incredible diversity.

3. UK, why? Well because it just is.


Netherlands and France chasing at the heels of the UK though.
 
Italy. Specifically, the Amalfi coast. Great Limoncello, views and weather. They make Ducatis and Aprilias and have decent fashion sense
Cons
- I can't afford to buy a decent property there
- lots of tourists
- Italy is in bankruptcy denial

Canada. So many beautiful areas, affordable in most places, great approach to life, multi-cultural (including French: France just falls outside my top three), liberal in just the right amounts, they have polar bears
Cons
- it is really big - takes ages to get anywhere
- few decent jobs outside the major cities
- very close to the USA

Singapore. Awesome albeit small, very close to other Asian destinations, English speaking, great culture, air-conditioned metro, fumigated parks
Cons
- lots of horrible ex-pats of many nationalities
- artificially expensive
- small and there are no seasons

I'd put France at number 4 and the UK at number 5.
 
Tough to pick 3, so here is a random selection of my top 10 in random order but countries I have lived in for a significant period of time to make a sound judgement

#a) USA - good earning potential, high quality of life for most, lower taxes and lower living costs, fantastic customer service, friendly people, great terrain that is varied and expansive.
cons: Republicans and rednecks, hard to make really deep connections, if you fall to the bottom you can hit the floor hard

#b) Switzerland. Some of the best scenery on the planet, best quality of life on the planet, very high salaries, very low taxes, very high standards of quality/cleanliness/services, endless opportunities for outdoor activities, center of Europe so can travel to Germany/Italy/France and Austria for weekend or day trips. Good balance of socialism and capitalism (if you you make a big fall there is a safety net to catch you but you wont make much of a living by being destitute, lots of support to get back on your 2 feet, plus those who pay in more in taxes receive more when they loose their job - 80% of last salary).

Cons: living expenses high (but more than make up for it in terms of salaries and taxes), lots of bigots and racists, people are friendly but sometimes hard to make deep friends with.

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For a third one then I don't really know. The only other country I have lived in significantly is GB but that doesn't appear in my top 10.
One of France/Germany/Austria/Canada/Anywhere in Scandinavia appears in the top 10.
 
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