The United States finds itself navigating a complex landscape of economic and social trends amid ongoing global dynamics. While the nation excels in reading and science, it lags behind in mathematics compared to other developed countries within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Concurrently, the US grapples with a significant trade deficit with Canada, primarily due to the import of inexpensive Canadian oil. This situation contributes to keeping American gas prices manageable. In the realm of international relations, the US continues its robust support for Ukraine, providing substantial military and humanitarian aid alongside European allies.
In education, the US maintains a strong performance in reading and science, standing well above average among wealthy, developed nations. However, it faces challenges in mathematics, where it ranks below average. These educational disparities highlight areas needing attention to ensure sustained competitiveness on the global stage.
Economically, the US goods and services trade deficit with Canada reached approximately $40.6 billion in 2023. When considering only trade in goods, this deficit expands to around $72.3 billion. The primary factor behind this deficit is the importation of inexpensive Canadian oil, which plays a critical role in stabilizing domestic energy costs.
The topic of voting practices reveals misconceptions, as articulated by former President Donald Trump. He claimed that the US is unique in allowing mail-in voting. However, several countries, including Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Spain, permit some or all voters to vote by mail.
"We’re the only country in the world that has mail-in voting." – Trump
Internationally, the US has provided approximately $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine. This effort is part of a broader strategy to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflicts. Europe has also been a significant contributor, collectively offering about $259 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian aid through December 2024. The US's total wartime aid to Ukraine amounts to roughly $125 billion.
Inflation is another pressing issue, with rates rising to 3% in January under the Biden administration. This increase reflects broader economic pressures faced by countries worldwide in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
The Social Security system in the US has mechanisms to prevent payments to individuals listed as being age 115 or older. Despite these measures, reports indicate discrepancies in records management, with an estimated 18.9 million individuals aged 100 or older not marked as deceased in a Social Security database. This discrepancy raises concerns about potential inefficiencies and fraud within the system.
"You see people that are 200 years old that are being sent checks for Social Security. Some of them are actually being sent checks. So we’re facing that down." – Trump
"Regarding the 44,000 figure, I’m confident that the vast majority of those are legit payments. So while there probably is some fraud, I don’t think these numbers show any evidence of it," – Andrew Biggs
"The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits," – Leland Dudek
The European Union's formation in the 1950s served as a joint effort between the US and Western European countries to stabilize and secure the region while promoting prosperity. This historical collaboration continues to influence current geopolitical strategies and alliances.
