The United States has been doing very well since 1776, John Oliver admits, but he still wants to remind Americans what they gave up by gaining independence. In a Last Week Tonight web-only video, Oliver explains that in addition to missing out on meat pies and bowler hats, the U.S. is also devoid of extreme pessimism. "Americans are optimistic people who believe the sky is the limit, whereas in Britain we are painfully aware of our limits," Oliver said. "In fact, just look at the British sky itself; even the sun is incapable of asserting itself there. British people never made the mistake of developing self-esteem." Watch the video below to find out what else Americans gave up so many years ago. Catherine Garcia
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The potential impact of Trump tariffs for the UKUK goods exports to the US could be hit with tariffs of up to 20% seriously affecting the British economy
-
Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube – a 'raw' and 'riveting' docuseriesThe Week Recommends Channel 4's 'gripping' two-part show explores the Metropolitan police killing of an innocent man in the aftermath of 7/7
-
'Salute to those who served'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
