Has America ever been “great”? We will be evaluating various categories by which we measure our standard of living as compared to other economically developed nations: health care, life expectancy, infant mortality, education, crime and violence, environment, infrastructure and mass transportation, political norms, and overall quality of life.

Steven J. Rubin is professor emeritus of international studies and the former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Adelphi University. He regularly teaches classes for the Berkshire Osher Lifelong Learning Center and conducts a monthly seminar in current affairs for the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.