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That's why very few academics rise to leadership roles.
And also the reason some of these people have risen to the ultimate leadership roles: They were given privilege and leadership roles they did not deserve, (including Presidency) based on their family ties/connections.
If Europe is better off than we are (a risible assumption if you ask me) maybe it helped that we picked up the tab for their defense during the Cold War. Pretty easy to have cradle to grave nanny statism when someone else is paying your defense bills.
If the United States vanished tomorrow, the remaining NATO/EU countries would have about 40% of the military spending of the world. In fact, the UK, Germany and France together has a bigger military budget than Russia + China.
No matter how much America whines, (and it seems to be a lot) Europe isn't going to subsidize the US military industry more than it does today.
If jimmy carter is 18, it detracts from any "validity" the ranking may have suggested. Carter, by most estimates, was the worst president of the 20th century.
I wonder if anyone would care if we "ranked" the British Prime Ministers?
Actually, few realize how much he did do. When his biggest issue is Iran and he has an overzealous Bush and Reagan conspiring with the enemy to retain the hostages... doesn't make the job easier.... personally I think Bush and reagan committed treason in their efforts but that's me.
SOme will say we had horrible inflation and interest.... Actually it was a good indication the economy was in a recovery mode and it showed what would have been expected. Also it was Kissinger an d Nixon that developed OPEC so the Middle East could buy our weapons... and gas was the main issue in the inflation. reagan removed gas from the index... so it wasn't any better just not reported...
I would place reagan much lower in the scale along with W... Now we have it confirmed he had Alzheimer while he was in office, something I've said for years.
I'm just going by the headline here - " British academics"
LOL!!!! Who gives a flying F about these deadbeat limeys anymore these days?
And their useless opinions? From a monarchy with a freaking queen and a king? You've got to be kidding me.
My pedantry compels me to point out that "Limey" is a term usually used to describe the English, not the British. The Queen is merely an accessory. A arguably valuable one, but it's not like she's making any decisions about legislature.
I agree that these lists are interesting, but don't really contribute much. They also tend to be arbitrary, despite the academics' best efforts.
And also the reason some of these people have risen to the ultimate leadership roles: They were given privilege and leadership roles they did not deserve, (including Presidency) based on their family ties/connections.
True, I'm no expert on American history but it makes sense for Roosevelt, Lincoln and Washington to be at the top considering they had to cope with some of the toughest situations of any US president. I bet somebody like Bill Clinton is glad he had some of the easiest times possible and he never had to deal with half the stuff Obama has to face up to.
Lincoln led us into a war that cost more American lives than World War 1 and 2 combined. FDR prolonged the longest depression we have seen. They were horrible.
Lincoln led us into a war that cost more American lives than World War 1 and 2 combined. FDR prolonged the longest depression we have seen. They were horrible.
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