The song is not saying America is either good or bad. It's saying that you get what you put into life, despite the country. The Sicilian family who was too proud to be poor is just like the born-American who holds on tight to his dignity and the Laotian who considers his somewhat menial life to be prosperous. America only serves as a basis for this larger statement because of it's reputation as the land of opportunity.
The song is not saying America is either good or bad. It's saying that you get what you put into life, despite the country. The Sicilian family who was too proud to be poor is just like the born-American who holds on tight to his dignity and the Laotian who considers his somewhat menial life to be prosperous. America only serves as a basis for this larger statement because of it's reputation as the land of opportunity.