>I "get" the whole American Exceptionalism theme. However, there are other successful nations out there. Germany, for example, was absolutely trashed in WWII but came back to be a European powerhouse. Ditto Japan. Both of them obviously have lessons about rising from adversity.
>
>Now let's see: who helped rebuild western Europe after WWII? Oh yeah, it was America, wasn't it? I am sure that you are familiar with the Marshall Plan...


And I'm sure you were aware why. Hint: it was not a charity:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090527074049AApiTPa

And the post 50-ties development of the economy cannot be attributed to the marshal plan. The rise of the japanes and german economies for the last 50 years has nothing to do with the marshal plan.

Read the whole article (not cherry pick) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

Ooops, those facts are annoying are they Marcia?