Well yes and no. In some sense US is very backwards, in others it's ahead of everyone else. It's a big country so lots of different things fit there.
Any example of it being ahead?
The tech industry for example. It is easily the biggest, most varied and in many cases the most innovative (due to educated people and resources) in the world. This benefits the economy and the military for example.
Colleges and universities.
You can complete a college without even studying if you're good at football, I wouldn't really call it ahead. And while your prestigious universities are great, it's the same issue as with healthcare - it's probably the best in the world, but it's only for the rich (or you can get into a huge debt).
Well yes and no. In some sense US is very backwards, in others it's ahead of everyone else. It's a big country so lots of different things fit there.
Any example of it being ahead?
The tech industry for example. It is easily the biggest, most varied and in many cases the most innovative (due to educated people and resources) in the world. This benefits the economy and the military for example.
Colleges and universities.
You can complete a college without even studying if you're good at football, I wouldn't really call it ahead. And while your prestigious universities are great, it's the same issue as with healthcare - it's probably the best in the world, but it's only for the rich (or you can get into a huge debt).
Neither of that do I consider as being ahead.