Help us, we’re falling and we can’t get up again.Once upon a time -- in 1988 and 1998 to be exact -- the United States was the best country for a baby to be born and raised in, at least according to The Economist magazine.But the 2013 edition of the magazine’s “where-to-be-born” index has us down at No. 16 -- tied with Germany and one spot ahead of the United Arab Emirates.Switzerland, Australia, Norway, Sweden and Denmark -- nice countries but not exactly world famous as destinations for millions of people seeking opportunity -- are ranked 1 through 5.The Economist’s annual ranking tries to quantify what country “will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead.”It crunches and weighs the numbers for 11 indicators -- everything from geography and demography to GDP per capita, the cost of living and future economic growth prospects. And, unfortunately for the United States, it weighs government debt.The Economist doesn’t factor a debt-related reason America will likely continue to slide in these rankings -- no one today has any confidence in our political leaders to solve our economic problems.Our economy is stuck on a reef.