I will admit that the U.S. is one of the best locations to live and have the opportunity to succeed and live the 'American Dream.' Almost every door is open and every individual can accomplish just about anything they can dream of. That, along with guaranteed human rights and freedom of speech is why so many from other nations around the world flock here to this day. Having stated that, it is also one of our many problems. It is entirely up to every individual to have the drive, ambition, dedication, and discipline to succeed. If you don't have it, then you will be one of the many in the 'below the poverty line.' I worked two jobs while attending college. It can be done. I am not a major success but I do well. Our government welfare programs still (even after many changes) lock the individual in the system. After all, if I am a single mother with 4 kids (thank goodness I am not) and I can have money and foodstamps and not have to pay for childcare because I stay at home all day or I work for minimmum wage and the government provides my childcare what would be the enticement to work for 25% more if the entire 25% increase in income was lost due to childcare costs or food after I no longer qualified for foodstamps or government childcare? There is a section in income that is almost impossible to break out of once you find yourself in it.

>>The U.S. may not be number 1 in the quality of life list, but it is number 10. Simply because we have too many people living at or below the poverty level. I agree with you on that one completely. For a wealthy country, we have a lot of poor folks. Still, I count number 10 as being in the top of the list.
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>I saw some statistics that indicated 16th, but I recognize it is difficult to measure. Yes, in your country the is a tremendous gap between rich and poor, which I presonally regard as something bad. We have to go back at least a century to see that division in europe. The Question of course is why did we move away from it? Is it a better model?
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>Walter,