The land of the free — and the home of the brave face. America has a lot of things going for it: Unrivaled military strength , extensive technological innovation and a persistent entrepreneurial spirit are just a few. But ahead of the 250th anniversary of its independence, the US is showing its age. America only placed 18th in US News & World Report’s new rankings of the best countries due to “notable weaknesses in key dimensions of national well-being.” Ahead of the 250th anniversary of its independence, America is not as healthy as it could be. AP The US earned No. 1 in culture and tourism and No. 2 in economic development, but garnered a disappointing 33rd place in health, 39th place in infrastructure and 41st place in civic health. “Challenges related to public health outcomes, social cohesion and public safety in particular pull down the country’s overall standing,” US News wrote in its explanation of the rankings, released Thursday.…