10 Signs The U.S. is Becoming a Third World Country

This is a thread that makes me very sad to post but i was wondering if the Americian people are finding things really as bad as this article says.
ITS THE TEN WAYS AMERICA IS LIKE A THRID WORLD COUNTRY.
States by every measure is hanging on by a thread to its First World status. Saddled by debt, engaged in wars on multiple fronts with a rising police state at home, declining economic productivity, and wild currency fluctuations all threaten America's future.

The general designations of the ranking system for world status date back to the 1950s, and have included countries at various stages of economic development. Since the Cold War, the definition has come to be synonymous with repressive countries where a wealthy class of ruling elites segment society into the haves and have-nots, many times capitalizing on the conditions that follow an economic crisis or war
Text there are 10 reasons i have only put reason 1 because of limit
number 1
1. Rising unemployment and poverty: Unemployment numbers, food stamps, and home foreclosures continue to reach new record highs. The ugly reality of those numbers was recently on display when 30,000 people showed up to apply for public housing in East Point, GA for 455 available vouchers. Fights broke out, people were fainting from the heat while in line, and riot police showed up to handle the angry poor.
2.Economic dependence:
3.Declining civil rights:
4.Increasing political corruption:
5.Military patrolling the streets:
6.Failing infrastructure:
7.Disappearing middle class:
8.Devalued currency:
9.Controlling the media:
10.Capital Controls:, you can read the whole article herewww.activistpost.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink">ACTIVIST POST

What id like to know is it really that bad now?? day to day like???
thanks guys

reply to post by johnny c


I don't know, maybe it's a "your mileage may vary" thing, but I don't see any of that stuff around here. The only one that might apply is "controlling the media" and I read a great quote a couple of weeks about that:

“We do not need a censorship of the press. We have a censorship by the press.”

That was G.K. Chesterton, in 1908. (Not 1980, lol)

Same problems, different century.

Hey Adjensen ,thanks for your input mate,i figured as much.That article was real doom and gloom. I was thinking when did Hiltler get Obumas job like. Its a dam shame whats happening with the bit that is going bad,that is by far bad enough.
I live in Ireland and our media is a joke too,you wouldnt belive the stuff they never say
like this
Irish garda refuse to arrest Henry Kissinger and we are change Ireland confronts david Rockerfeller
thanks for your reply
If anyone else has information would be great,i was thinking of moving to orange county if anybody knows what that is like would be great.
thanks

As long as there are hundreds of thousands of people trying to get in US in any way possible, claiming US is becoming third world country is pretty funny.
US has huge problems? Yes, it does. But! It had huge problems before and it will have those in the future too.
First sign of crumbling empire is people trying to get out while nobody trying to get in. So far it is the extreme opposite.

Zeroknowledge i like your logic,i know what you mean.People coming into countries geting paid good money and sending it home is the problem,worry not im going for a year holiday and not to take anybodies job.

Originally posted by johnny c
What id like to know is it really that bad now?? day to day like???
thanks guys

First, I can assume you do not understand "3rd world" and so I'll run with the idea it is lower standard of living that seems to be the theme of your post.

I think if you live around the world you would get an idea of what is the typical standard of the quality of life. And isn't that is what we are talking about here, quality of life? So just what gives you quality of life? If you brake it down into areas like shelter, food, work, health, enjoyment etc I find it hard pressed to beat America.

I live in a large house with central air that I can keep at any temperature ALL the time, every person (except for my wife and I, but we have a king bed) has their own room, I can buy a huge variety of foods any given day of the year, any hour of the day, I can travel at will where ever I like to go, I live in clean air, drink good water that I still filter, I also have great sewage/trash services, I can see any movie I like too, do any hobby that strikes my interest, or sit home and watch 270 (many HD) channels on 3 large TVs or blue ray 1080p projector, or just cruse the internet anywhere in my house. I work less than 40 hours per week including travel to and from. I can drink good scotch and smoke a great cigar and watch the sun set or stars at night in total bliss. My kids want for nothing, go to a great school and can do any sport/activity they choose, they can also walk the streets around where we live without fear.

I don’t know, but these are just a few things off the top of my head I cannot find anywhere else in the world all together. Even when I lived in Japan and Europe I didn’t come close to this quality of life.

So to answer your question of whether America is becoming 3rd world it would be like asking if Bill Gates was becoming only a millionaire or lower just because he lost a billion dollars i.e. a long way to fall for that to happen…

I agree with you XtroZero. I have a similar situation (except for me it's a beer and a cigarette).

The US GDP is still waaay higher than any other country.

This current period will pass.

I think this thread is scaremongering. You would actually need to visit a third world country to appreciate the dire, abject poverty. You cannot compare the USA with that at all.

Sure there is a worldwide financial crisis and yes, we all know that things are tough out there, but it would take a very long way for the USA, or many European countries to be counted as third world.

reply to post by Xtrozero
First, I can assume you do not understand "3rd world" and so I'll run with the idea it is lower standard of living that seems to be the theme of your post.

I WAS ASKING YOU WHAT YOU TOUGHT OF A ARTICLE!!! How very arrogant of you to think i dont know what a 3rd world country is
I go away every second summer to build houses in Africa for under privledged people! [Every time my heart is broken] as do a lot of people in my community.
I was not insulting your country in any way,i am glad you do so well for your family and from the life you describe,i ask you do you know what a 3rd world nation is?? I dont know where you have being in europe because everything you described is here,ILL SAY IT AGAIN ,I WAS NOT OFFENDING YOU

[edit on 15/8/2010 by johnny c]

reply to post by Xtrozero


Xtrozero has put it very well.

But, I would argue, in the nicest of ways, that you can quite easily attain that same kind of lifestyle in Europe. I do, and I know many friends/family etc, who do.


Edited spelling error - fiends to friends.



[edit on 20-8-2010 by qualitygossip]

reply to post by qualitygossip
Iwas only asking was the article bull#? thays all!,everybody knows quaility of life in America leads the way,e.g the Americian dream what has being plenty fair enough to my family
AS IF I WOULD EVER SAY ANYTHING AGAINST IT!!
NOT TO MENTION ALL MY FRIENDS

Originally posted by johnny c
I WAS ASKING YOU WHAT YOU TOUGHT OF A ARTICLE!!! How very arrogant of you to think i dont know what a 3rd world country is

I go away every second summer to build houses in Africa for under privledged people! [Every time my heart is broken] as do a lot of people in my community.
I was not insulting your country in any way,i am glad you do so well for your family and from the life you describe,i ask you do you know what a 3rd world nation is?? I dont know where you have being in europe because everything you described is here,ILL SAY IT AGAIN ,I WAS NOT OFFENDING YOU

My post wasn't written in anger and I'm not offended in the least, nor did I feel you were insulting my country in anyway. I suggested that using "3rd world" may not focus on the truer point of quality of life.

The term "First World" refers to a bloc of countries aligned with the United States after World War II, with more or less common political and economic interests: North America, Western Europe, Japan and Australia.

"Second World" refers to the former communist-socialist, industrial states, (formerly the Eastern bloc, the territory and sphere of influence of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic) today: Russia, Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland) and some of the Turk States (e.g., Kazakhstan) as well as China.

"Third World" is everything else and can be capitalist (e.g., Venezuela) and communist (e.g., North Korea) countries, as very rich (e.g., Saudi Arabia) and very poor (e.g., Mali) countries.
Below

So you can see what I mean when "3rd world" is used since America can never be 3rd world even if we became the poorest country in the world.

Cheers



[edit on 20-8-2010 by Xtrozero]

Originally posted by qualitygossip

Xtrozero has put it very well.

But, I would argue, in the nicest of ways, that you can quite easily attain that same kind of lifestyle in Europe. I do, and I know many friends/family etc, who do.

I agree, my time in France and Germany was great. Though I do not know how well European families can maintain a high quality of life I found it was harder for me to do it there than in the States. In Japan I felt my quality of life was much lower than many other places I lived. For Japan it was the overall expense, horrendous travel times to and from work with very long work days, overcrowding in homes with multi families living in single family houses, poorly built houses that were very cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer even with large utility bills. (and I was in what one over there considers a nice house) and the general lack of pleasures I commonly have in the US.

reply to post by Xtrozero


I have never been to Japan but heard that it's horrendously expensive and that people just work, work, work.

I'm in the UK, and I'd consider France and Germany to be more expensive, property and income taxes etc. I was in Paris a year ago and it was 20 Euros ($25, £16) for a small beer and a glass of wine!! In the UK, the same would be around £8 (9 Euros or $11 equivalent) I think Germany has the highest income tax rate in the whole of Europe, but then their economy is among the best in Europe isn't it?

You are very lucky to have had the opportunity to work around the world and experience different lifestyles. I guess it must help in not taking things for granted.

Originally posted by qualitygossip

I have never been to Japan but heard that it's horrendously expensive and that people just work, work, work.

Yep, like 60-80 hours per week and then sit in traffic for 3 or 4 hours if they drive. Then it isn't fun when a small house has 4 to 6 adults and a bunch of kids.

I'm in the UK, and I'd consider France and Germany to be more expensive, property and income taxes etc. I was in Paris a year ago and it was 20 Euros ($25, £16) for a small beer and a glass of wine!! In the UK, the same would be around £8 (9 Euros or $11 equivalent) I think Germany has the highest income tax rate in the whole of Europe, but then their economy is among the best in Europe isn't it?

Accessibility is a big part of it all, in if you can’t afford it than it really doesn’t count. I'm near Portland and there are like 100s of great micro brewers and I pay about 5 bucks for a big and really good glass of beer. We are still only paying 3 buck for a gallon of gas, and one trip to a Costco and most people, not from this country, jaws would drop to the ground...hehe

You are very lucky to have had the opportunity to work around the world and experience different lifestyles. I guess it must help in not taking things for granted.

I been all over and it just makes me appreciate what I got right here at home even more.

BTW UK is a great place.

[edit on 20-8-2010 by Xtrozero]

reply to post by Xtrozero
Im sorry Xtrozero,sorry if i was a bit quick to take it the wrong way.
I agree with you totally,there is no way America could ever reach that fase ,not im a million years.It is to strong and the people have to much about them to let that happen.
It was a joke of a article and i shouldnt really of posted it know that i reflect, i was just wondering about the military on the streets more?
I should of posted the section i wanted but didnt want to break the 3 paragraphs rule,
Sorry again buddy and by the way,I say that is a bad ass tv!!!!
sorry again

reply to post by Xtrozero


Damn mate,Paris is a joke for a drink! I know you pay it and all because your away,but that is taken the !?[" ,if you know what i mean!
I agree with you over the travelling involved for work in Europe,i drive 2 hours each way to work!!
by the time your home the days over and you are going to bed wondering where it went.

Originally posted by johnny c

 

Im sorry Xtrozero,sorry if i was a bit quick to take it the wrong way.
I agree with you totally,there is no way America could ever reach that fase ,not im a million years.It is to strong and the people have to much about them to let that happen.
It was a joke of a article and i shouldnt really of posted it know that i reflect, i was just wondering about the military on the streets more?
I should of posted the section i wanted but didnt want to break the 3 paragraphs rule,
Sorry again buddy and by the way,I say that is a bad ass tv!!!!
sorry again

No problem friend, and I could have written it better for understanding.

1. Rising unemployment and poverty: Unemployment numbers, food stamps, and home foreclosures continue to reach new record highs. The ugly reality of those numbers was recently on display when 30,000 people showed up to apply for public housing in East Point, GA for 455 available vouchers. Fights broke out, people were fainting from the heat while in line, and riot police showed up to handle the angry poor.

Still under 10% I think where many other places are 20% or higher...kind of like the whole world is affected all at the same time. We also have a low percentage of "poor" and I would not categorize our poor as with the rest of the world since we do not know what real poor actually looks like.

2.Economic dependence:
3.Declining civil rights:
4.Increasing political corruption:

About as it ever was and still much less than many other countries, especially when one is talking undeveloped nations.

5.Military patrolling the streets:

Nope, never see this and is not legal for active duty troops, but state troops can under the order of the governor. I'm sure some here might suggest the police force as one, but what I think you are looking for we do not have; such are troops standing on street corners manning a post.

6.Failing infrastructure:

Not really, lots of build, but also there are things that need work on. We do see areas become abandoned while other areas are in big build up. People can nick pick this subject to death but we are forever building.

7.Disappearing middle class:

Still lots of middle class. Does europe have a middle class? If the middle class lives in a house of average size for their area then most are like this.

8.Devalued currency:

Some what, but we know why and with the largest GNP in the world it would not take long to fix that once we get our act right again. BTW when one normally talks about devalued currency for a 3rd world nation we are talking almost worthless or damn near, so I would need to say we would be a long way from that.

9.Controlling the media:

Controlled by whom? If you say the government then no..

10.Capital Controls:,

Like corprate control? somewhat, but not much different than in the past, if you suggest World Bank controlling the government like in many third world nation then I would say no.

reply to post by johnny c


Since you said that you're not an American, you, by default, have no idea what's going on in America.

Police patrolling the streets? A decline in civil rights? I haven't seen either.

Your ignorance is apparent.

It would be like me saying that all Irish people are drunken hooligans that have red hair and eat potatoes.

I don't know crap about your country and you don't know crap about mine either.

I definitely agree the USA is becoming a 3rd world country, slowly but surely. I don't know if any of you saw this story where there was rioting in Atlanta over government handouts- www.thefoxnation.com...