America does fairly well on five other factors in the institute鈥檚 report: a sound business environment, acceptance of the rights of others, good relations with neighbors, free flow of information, and low levels of corruption. But there鈥檚 still much room for improvement.
For example, on the 鈥渞ights of others,鈥� the US has yet to ratify the international treaties related to the rights of the child, the International Criminal Court, and the elimination of discrimination against women.
On 鈥渃orruption鈥� and the perception of corruption, the Occupy Wall Street protests illustrate growing distrust of the financial industry, an industry that can now spend unlimited amounts in federal elections thanks to campaign finance laws weakened by the Supreme Court.
On 鈥済ood relations with neighbors,鈥� America鈥檚 ongoing drug and gun wars with Latin America and war and conflict in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya, continue to cost taxpayers trillions of dollars.
Baby steps on any of these fronts will garner big gains as a more peaceful America (on par with Canada, for example) would yield $361 billion in annual savings and additional economic activity. The investment is worth it.
Michael Shank is the US vice president at the and a former senior policy advisor to Democratic Congressman Michael Honda of California.
