--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have not noticed how fast the rest has…" description: "\"“We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen. Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of the nonindustrialized world as well--has better ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/fareed-zakaria-3805_business_we-have-not-noticed-how-fast-the-rest-ha_1616967.jpg" --- # We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen. Most of… ![“We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen. Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of the nonindustrialized world as well--has better cell phone service than the United States. Broadband is faster and cheaper across the industrial world, from Canada to France to Japan, and the…” quote by Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/fareed-zakaria-3805_business_we-have-not-noticed-how-fast-the-rest-ha_1616967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/fareed-zakaria-3805_business_we-have-not-noticed-how-fast-the-rest-ha_1616967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/fareed-zakaria-3805_business_we-have-not-noticed-how-fast-the-rest-ha_1616967.jpg) > ““We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen. Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of the nonindustrialized world as well--has better cell phone service than the United States. Broadband is faster and cheaper across the industrial world, from Canada to France to Japan, and the United States now stands sixteenth in the world in broadband penetration per capita. Americans are constantly told by their politicians that the only thing we have to learn from other countries' health care systems is to be thankful for ours. Most Americans ignore the fact that a third of the country's public schools are totally dysfunctional (because their children go to the other two-thirds). The American litigation system is now routinely referred to as a huge cost to doing business, but no one dares propose any reform of it. Our mortgage deduction for housing costs a staggering $80 billion a year, and we are told it is crucial to support home ownership, except that Margaret Thatcher eliminated it in Britain, and yet that country has the same rate of home ownership as the United States. We rarely look around and notice other options and alternatives, convinced that "we're number one.”” [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America lags in broadband and education, yet clings to outdated policies, ignoring better global alternatives and internal failures. **In simple terms:** The U.S. ignores better options and its own problems. Key Takeaway Reevaluate policies and adopt proven global solutions. Themes technology policy education comparative analysis national self‑delusion Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - government decisionmaking - public education - telecommunications - tax policy Key Concepts global benchmarking policy reform infrastructure investment Questions to Reflect On - Why does the U.S. resist adopting successful foreign models? - How can citizens push for systemic change? A Different Perspective Political resistance and vested interests hinder reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Home ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-ownership/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [If God had wanted us to spend all our time fretting about the problems of home ownership, He would never have created beer. 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Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of the nonindustrialized world as well--has better cell phone service than the United States. Broadband is faster and cheaper across the industrial world, from Canada to France to Japan, and the United States now stands sixteenth in the world in broadband penetration per capita. Americans are constantly told by their politicians that the only thing we have to learn from other countries' health care systems is to be thankful for ours. Most Americans ignore the fact that a third of the country's public schools are totally dysfunctional (because their children go to the other two-thirds). The American litigation system is now routinely referred to as a huge cost to doing business, but no one dares propose any reform of it. Our mortgage deduction for housing costs a staggering $80 billion a year, and we are told it is crucial to support home ownership, except that Margaret Thatcher eliminated it in Britain, and yet that country has the same rate of home ownership as the United States. 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