I think the U.S. WAS a shining beacon for all, starting in maybe 1780 or so and running up to the  mid 1800s. As the industrial revolution came along--with it's associated urbanization--and slavery continued, we started falling behind.

Then of course in the 1950s everything was glorious, given that Europe and the Far East were pretty much obliterated. After all, we were buying Buicks while you Europeans were still eating fake ration-coupon food! Unfortunately, it's sort of problematical to defend the shining capitalist light on the hill theory now, after noticing that the previously-obliterated have managed to keep their socialistical programs going while at the same time rebuilding their cities and societies to the point where the U.S. is no longer at the top of so many of the statistical reports...