text: That is a very difficult question.... Besides personal factors ("beauty in the eye of the beholder"), if one were to use some religious or spiritual criteria in this forum, there probably could be a basis for a consensus. History has shown that societies go through phases. Over-simplified: struggling, great, & past-their-prime. The Roman Empire is amazing history, Great Britain had a world empire, the USA has had a been a virtuous experiment... but it appears that the glory days, culturally, for USA is in the past. Whatever moral values one has (religious or secular), the direction of the government & entertainment (to name to major factors) has been going downhill since WWII. As have the developed countries, in general.\n\nI have wondered if I will want to stay in the US after I retire. It is becoming more & more difficult to maintain a Christian lifestyle - for even a nominal Christian - with all the worldly assaults & temptations, everywhere, all the time.\n\nSo the question becomes, for me, where do the people live in harmony with Christian values? (And, secondarily, have a healthy & pleasant environs.) I think I'll check Iceland... there is no heaven on earth - that's what I want.