Is the US a third world country?

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care

-deteriorating middle class

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations

-crappy education system

-brutal, authoritarian police force

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something

No.

Those are not the ways that matter, those are just the ways that you can spin it.

it's a 5th world country.

third world, no

ridiculously broken system, yes

No.

Those are not the ways that matter, those are just the ways that you can spin it.

PannicAtack

Spin this:

Map of unviersal healthcare-

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"]

No.

Those are not the ways that matter, those are just the ways that you can spin it.

bigfootstew

Spin this:

Map of unviersal healthcare-

All gray countries are third world, except the US (which is debateable at this point).

We fall into the same category as North Korea and some ridiculously poor African countries on healthcare.

That's absolutely pathetic.

All gray countries are third world, except the US (which is debateable at this point).

bigfootstew

Being able to choose health plans on your own is so wrong.;)

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care

-deteriorating middle class

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations

-crappy education system

-brutal, authoritarian police force

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something

bigfootstew

No, IT is no way a Third World Country. :evil:

All gray countries are third world, except the US (which is debateable at this point).

bigfootstew

[QUOTE="bigfootstew"]

All gray countries are third world, except the US (which is debateable at this point).

PannicAtack

So North Korea is a first world paradise?

I'm not even sure what to say to the question. :|

I'm Middle Class. I recently got a Wii, an HDTV, cable, and a blu-ray player. Wii aside, how is that "deteriorating?"PannicAtack

Because the middle class is deteriorating. We don't produce anything. In a few years there will be no middle class. Service economies are typical of third world countries.

Are you comparing your life to that of someone in say Somarlia or something? Do you have any idea how comfertable you have it living in america compared to them.... for one your on the internet.... thats alot more than many people living there would even dream ofWolls

I don't think he is from America (I hope so at least, I know our education system has declined but...).

oh yeah totally man i cant believe your the first person to see our countries problem we should totally give this guy a medal

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"]

[QUOTE="bigfootstew"]

All gray countries are third world, except the US (which is debateable at this point).

bigfootstew

So North Korea is a first world paradise?

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care

-deteriorating middle class

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations

-crappy education system

-brutal, authoritarian police force

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something

bigfootstew

Most of the poor did it to themselves,most have a choice to better themselves through education and dont or didnt. So it is not my responsibility to give up my income that I worked hard for so they can live the same way. And no I am not rich, my wife and I fit in the middle class.

The middle class has only deteriotrated because the manufacturing industry has been sucked out of the country. It will take time for people to move towards something else, like IT for instance. And actually with the dollar as crappy as it is some of the manufacturing jobs are coming back.

Youre right our education system needs work, but it is getting better.

Authritarian police force?? People that riot need to have the s*** kicked out of them. Your insinuation behind that comment is ignorant.

healthcare needs reformed, though a universal healthcare system in this country would put hundreds of thousands of people out of jobs. There are other ways to do it... I have no problem paying for my healthcare, however, the system itself is flawed but why people think a government takeover would make it more efficient is beyond my comprehension.

We do spend a lot on military, with the weakening dollar it seems that we are spending more than we should, but if you take the massive inflation that the democrats, mainly Obama, and partly Bush's fault too, have created we have to spend more money causeits not worth as much. Also, you are forgetting that the military provides a lot to our economy..

Socialistic ideologies that promote spreading wealth is counter productive and reduces people's incentive to become educated and successful. Take France for example.... that place is a complete mess. Its a perfect example how a socialistic society does not work.

Most of the poor did it to themselves,most have a choice to better themselves through education and dont or didnt.

Chrypt22

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care

-deteriorating middle class

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations

-crappy education system

-brutal, authoritarian police force

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something

bigfootstew

-no universal health care Hardly an attribute of a 3rd world country.

-deteriorating middle class That kinda happens in recessions.

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor Redundancy at it's finest.

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations What's new?

-crappy education system No, rather a culture that doesn't value education.

-brutal, authoritarian police force What?

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something I can agree.

This topic reminded me of a question I always had.

What is a 2nd world country?

I know of 1st and 3rd. Is it the stable but unimportant nations?

This topic reminded me of a question I always had.

What is a 2nd world country?

I know of 1st and 3rd. Is it the stable but unimportant nations?

dercoo

I forgot to add...

Pay to play politics.. there is some truth to that. Look what Barney Frank and other Democrats... and a couple Republicans did to single handidly create the housing crisis. Forcing banks to lend to people that clearly couldnt afford it... and bam, backfired. Its not all their fault, but I would say 80% is on them.

[QUOTE="bigfootstew"]

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care

-deteriorating middle class

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations

-crappy education system

-brutal, authoritarian police force

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something

hamstergeddon

All 3rd world countries aren't all like haiti or those poor african countries.. some of us such as mine are actually not that bad.

so wrong in so many ways..so much so I'm not even go into it further because it'll just end in a 50 page thread with nothing accomplished.......No....Omni-Slash

this man is right

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care Our healthcare is on par/better than services outside the US.

-deteriorating middle class Because of tax cuts which they become the upper middle class. That or because our tax system screws us over.

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor Really? Are you being serious?

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations That's evident in almost every country. But compared to other countries such as Haiti, we're not completely corrupt.

-crappy education system Our education is still an envy of the world. But not so much today.

-brutal, authoritarian police force And we still have our gun rights.

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something I would hardly call it unnecessary, especially with countries that are very dangerous who have threatened others before.

bigfootstew

You think the US is bad? Move to Haiti. Or any country in Africa, China, or any repressive Asian country such as North Korea. The US is far from a third world nation and it will never be.

[QUOTE="bigfootstew"]

I think in most ways that matter, it is:

-no universal health care Our healthcare is on par/better than services outside the US.

-deteriorating middle class Because of tax cuts which they become the upper middle class. That or because our tax system screws us over.

-huge disparity between the wealthy and poor Really? Are you being serious?

-pay to play politics, with politicians being shills for huge corporations That's evident in almost every country. But compared to other countries such as Haiti, we're not completely corrupt.

-crappy education system Our education is still an envy of the world. But not so much today.

-brutal, authoritarian police force And we still have our gun rights.

-massive, unnecessary military spending like we're going to fight WW2 all over again or something I would hardly call it unnecessary, especially with countries that are very dangerous who have threatened others before.

leviathan91

You think the US is bad? Move to Haiti. Or any country in Africa, China, or any repressive Asian country such as North Korea. The US is far from a third world nation and it will never be.

South africa? Egypt? Algeria? Morocco? Tunisia? Botswana? You people make these counties sound like they are on the level of haiti.

Sorry, I had to. :|

Still, look at our standard of living.Meinhard1

Huh, no facepalm pic till the third page.

Expected it sooner

No.

Not having universal health care makes us a third world country ? Ha where better off chosing are own health care and not letting the goverment deal with it.

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"]I'm Middle Class. I recently got a Wii, an HDTV, cable, and a blu-ray player. Wii aside, how is that "deteriorating?"bigfootstew

Because the middle class is deteriorating. We don't produce anything. In a few years there will be no middle class. Service economies are typical of third world countries.

Whatever. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to leave this craphole and move to Britain or Canada.