Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another checkout line.

Using a mundane scene—shoppers jockeying for position when a new checkout lane opens—the line wryly argues that competition in the United States is not merely an economic doctrine but a lived social reflex. The humor comes from recognizing how quickly ordinary people shift into strategic, even aggressive behavior over small advantages (a shorter wait, a faster exit). At the same time, the quote gently critiques the myth that Americans have grown complacent or unambitious: the “competitive spirit” persists in everyday micro-contests. Landers’ aphorism fits her advice-column persona, translating a broad cultural observation into a vivid, instantly recognizable moment.