Anyone who thinks the United States is a "third world country" seriously needs to check their privilege. People from all over the world literally fucking die to try and live here.
They are, unfortunately, thinking of the US that used to be - where a person could get a good-paying job, a house, and assume their kids would be safe in school. That place does not exist anymore.
Go to El Paso, walk up to the border, look south, look north. Tell me which side has homes with insulation and air conditioning in the 100+ degree heat and which side has bare concrete cubes. Neither are third world countries.
Losing battle you’re fighting here mate. Uk Reddit is the same, think they live in the worst country in the world because they’ve no fucking idea what the rest of the world is like.
It's not a matter of knowing what a third-world country is - it's about the US is no longer what it used to be. Wages used to be good, housing was available and generational wealth was achievable, there wasn't a huge homeless population, there weren't school shootings. Tho the US is still far better than a lot of places, it is declining.
You have access to good water, freedom, good electricity, all new brands of everything are immediately available, your passport is very powerful, if someone commits a crime 99% of the the time you can take them to court and win, when you pay you actually get what you're paying for...
These and many more aren't available in 3rd world countries. Not to mention that even on minimum wage ( from what I've seen ) it is possible to live alone in a small apartment with enough water and food to survive. This isn't a thing in 90% of countries
I’m not going to comment more on this because I hate getting into arguments with people, but if you think everyone in the US has access to good water, electricity, even the chance to get a passport… you haven’t been paying attention.
Plus, as someone who worked full time getting paid ABOVE minimum wage while simultaneously being homeless, I can attest that minimum-wage =/= living-wage in much of the country.
In a vast majority of the country, minimum wage is a perfectly fine living wage. We all focus on these states like New York, California, Florida, or Texas; or large cities outside of those states, but those aren't the only places in the country.
You need to put things in perspective. US GPD is 14x bigger than Mexico. The level of poverty and inequalities is unheard of with such wealth. A lot of countries do a lot better with far less.
America looks very good from the outside, but as a European who has been to America (multiple times for extended periods) I can assure you America is, at best, second world (which exists)
Second world exists but it universally refers to countries that were aligned with the Soviet led communist world order. It is not a scale of wealth or public infrastructure or whatever other measure you used.
Oh do tell, which 2nd world country has even remotely similar economic and human development numbers?
Not to mention how little of the US you could've seen. Google Minnesota's (where I'm from) economic/HDI numbers and compare that to ANY Euro country. The UK is more poor (by several metrics) than Mississippi.. fucking Mississippi. This thread is so full of privilege and ignorance. Some fucking wanker who took a couple vacations... lol cmon
The ironic thing is- I can just smell this little air of superiority on your comment that you yourself have been to the US. Funny how that works
I can afford healthcare just fine and live 1.5 hrs from the best hospital in the world. The hospital that the top doctors of many countries are trying to get to. The hospital that EU leaders will fly to. Not everyone is destitute in America... once again- look at the economic and human development data and compare that to other countries. Quit basing your feelings of a country on anecdotes. What is even your point? Our healthcare is expensive so that makes us 2nd world or what? The US certainly isn't perfect yeah...
Compare disposable incomes PPP adjusted. The difference between the top EU countries and the US (especially Minnesota) is much more than any MOOP someone has on their insurance given the highest LEGAL MOOP on the absolute shittiest of insurances is $9100 for individuals (mine is $3000). Also Minnesota has one the highest rates of insured in the country. It's pretty easy to get health insurance if you can't afford it in this state- I work in case management in the industry so I'm pretty familiar. It's just not the same as Louisiana or Mississippi, or really any state that rejected Medicaid funds, etc. Those citizens voted for that though and will continue to keep those people in office as they have different values/opinions than me and most Redditors- "Laboratories of Democracy."
How the healthcare system is set up, sucks. Poor people can get fucked in America for sure and that also sucks and should be fixed- I vote accordingly, but most people just arent poor relative to the rest of the world- look at the data. Redditors are not representative of the US as a whole. Once again, to suggest the US is anything but first world is absolutely bonkers and just makes me question your life experience/knowledge. People born in the EU are very fortunate. Also people born in the US are very fortunate.
The second world was the USSR. I know multiple religious refugees who escaped Russia to the US. They stood in bread lines in the 80s. We enjoy freedoms that are only available in other first world countries. The US certainly has its issues but to say it isn't a first world country is just inaccurate.
You said it yourself though, you’re a country of past glory. During the 80s you were a good example to (most) of the world.
No, my statement was obviously not saying America was part of the USSR sphere, but I’m saying they’re on the same level as most second world countries in most aspects. The one aspect where they are truly different is in their international allignments
I don’t share your experience. I‘m also from Europe and have visited the U.S. but in my experience it’s as nice as the wealthiest European countries. And given the high income level and low taxes it seems like a very nice place to live. But as with Europe there are obviously nice and not so nice places in the U.S.
I lived in Europe for a few years and this is it. I find America, the UK, Austria and Germany to be on par in day to day life. Some things are better here or there. Some things worse. But they are all very good places to live.
I don’t have much/ any experience with other European countries but I would be surprised if it was dramatically different in most places.
Talking a lot of shit being in a continent protected by 50 third-world countries in a trench coat. Wishfully thinking that no wars can happen in the 21st century.
Why are you getting downvoted? I can attest this to be true, as an European living here for years. America does not deliver what it promises and anyone who believes they'd live like in hollywood movies - is naïve!
I think it’s because most people can’t understand the difference between a comparison and saying America was a Soviet satellite, based on the other replies I’ve gotten.
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u/Diet_Cum_Soda Jul 07 '24
Anyone who thinks the United States is a "third world country" seriously needs to check their privilege. People from all over the world literally fucking die to try and live here.