"Were" #1, thanks to greed, jealousy, lust, hatred, etc., etc., etc. ...

the evil fruits of the spirit.  We have ceased to be good.

"America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." - Alexis de Tocqueville

We're No. 1! We're No. 1! We're...uh...not?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/02/us/american-exceptionalism-other-countries-lessons/index.html?c=homepage-t