We are a GREAT nation, doing GREAT things.
America was a great nation. It's gone off the rails this century. Starting with the response to 9/11 and the pointless, horrible illegal destruction of Iraq. And the further concentration of wealth and war on unions and working class, which the New Dems had a hand in as they too became a corporate party under Clinton. Then one party became anti-science, conspiracy theorists and openly racist. And openly sabotaged the President and country for 8 years. Culminating in Donald Trump actually becoming president. And insisting that anything he disagrees with is fake news, and the media is the enemy of the people. Sowing confusion so the scared and faithful could feel safe cocooning in their partisan news bubble.
The US continues to waste its treasure on weapons and wars, and not invest in its people and future. Hell, Trump actually ran on the platform that America had lost its way and wasn't great anymore. I think the culture has also really decayed and become decadent -- drugs, tattoos, guns, obesity, cartoonish sexuality. America has seriously lost its way.
Look at the covid-19 response, just buffoonery and selfishness and unpreparedness and a lack of seriousness from top to bottom, excluding medical workers. There's a reason China is getting the all-clear and the US will pass China in number of infected soon, and likely deaths thereafter.
There's been a long decline in the US. Some real self-inflicted wounds, such as Iraq and the Bush Depression. The lack of adequate health care for all, the failure to have a reasonable social safety net, the war on unionization and the demonization of the poor. Europe has done a world better on these basic issues, and people live more comfortable lives with less stress and anxiety. America is exceptional only in the way it combines wealth and cruelty.