If you put it that way. Europe is too and has more than 2 times your pop, yet you still have more cases than them. That argument, "Equivalent to 50 countries" is so overused. I hope you don't mind me using Europe as an example, since after all Us is 50 countries.
I didn't mention Europe.
And the "50 countries" argument is perfectly valid, because it's true. The people in charge of New York have no bearing over Texas.
So... we're not a nanny state, we have the freedom to use or abuse as we please, we secure the Pacific and entire western world, and we're not deliberately understating infection rates. Sounds plenty exceptional to me.
And the "50 countries" argument is perfectly valid, because it's true. The people in charge of New York have no bearing over Texas.