‘You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” “The third time is a charm.”

There are countless clichés in the English language, and they are usually condescending, hackneyed, contradictory, and/or used in the wrong context. Yup, even I have used one or two now and then when I just don’t feel like putting in the effort to state or write what I want to say in an erudite manner.

The time has come for someone to finally address one of these turns of phrase — a false, or at best distorted, statement that has become a cliché about our country. I have heard it said and have read about it countless times during my 78 years. Every time I encounter it, I mumble some form of disapproval under my breath.

The pronouncement goes something like this: “We live in the richest country in the world.” (What has finally led me to speak up are the numerous references to this maxim lately found in recent articles in the Gazette. It’s time I stop mumbling.)

No we don’t!

I understand that “richness” can be defined in many ways. Perhaps the most common way refers to monetary wealth, but there are an infinite number of other objective and subjective measures as well. Space will allow me to only address the fiscal angle here in an admittedly superficial manner. One can research the topic and the U.S never leads the pack in any worthwhile (couldn’t resist) answer to the query, “Which country is the richest in the world”? In fact, we’re not even close.

If one only takes into account gross domestic product (GDP) we top the list, but this is a misrepresentation, make that a perversion, of the bigger picture. The more meaningful and more realistic measure of a country’s wealth is the GDP per capita.

An analogy might be like saying that Joe, who weighs 250 pounds, is heavier than John,who weighs only 240 pounds. While literally that is true, it doesn’t take into account that in this case, John is 5 feet tall while Joe is 6 feet 5 inches tall.

Let’s stop using smoke and mirrors and rather “tell it like it is.”

Just as an example, “World data” ranks the countries by adjusted GDP per capita. Luxembourg is No. 1. The U.S. is No. 11. Let’s stop with the jingoism.

Yes, I have read “Poverty, By America.” I found Matthew Desmond to be a knowledgeable scholar who has penned an informative, extremely well-written and meticulously documented book. The issues he brings to light are highly disturbing. I even learned a thing or two!

He has plenty of important and interesting things to say, but Mr. Desmond, we are not the “richest country in the world” by any meaningful measure. If an argument is going to “hold water,” accuracy is tantamount to its strength.

Without question, a very sad state of affairs exists in America with regard to distribution of wealth. As many people have highlighted, including Mr. Desmond, the situation seems to be getting worse, or at best remaining stagnant. The use of superficial clichés to spotlight the plight only detracts from the gravity and urgency of the complicated “can of worms.” See what I mean?

Time for me to “ride off into the sunset.”

Jonathan Kahane lives in Westhampton.

]]>