OldTimer - Spot on. We even have a popular TV game show here called "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?". It's truly embarrassing to be an American sometimes...
Vin - I've lived in England and France, and have visited dozens of other countries including a trip to Eastern Canada last Summer. On three occasions I, or my wife, have needed medical attention while overseas and I've got to tell you the "average joe" gets much better medical care in the UK, Europe and Canada than the "average joe" gets here in the US. Yes, it's true that you can get the best medical care in the world at facilities like the Cleveland Clinic, but only if you can afford it. For millions of Americans who either have crappy medical insurance or none at all, medical care here in the US isn't anywheres near the same high level of quality I experienced in Canada, England and France. I wouldn't judge a country's medical care by listening to a talk show about it, where there's freedom of speech people will complain. But having witnessed their medical system versus our own first hand, I've gotta say they've got us licked.
Fortunately, not everyone in the US thinks like this character Mulholland does, just the ones currently residing in the Whitehouse.