I'm thinking, we are a third world country?

[Tobby782]

Definitely not 3rd world yet, unless you count Detroit, ha, ha, JK Detroiters. This rating downgrade should have probably happened a long time ago anyway.

[Tobby782]

Definitely not 3rd world yet, unless you count Detroit, ha, ha, Just kidding Detroit. This rating downgrade should have probably happened a long time ago anyway.

[snafu]

Snodog: One thing that keeps 3rd world countries so poor is the graft and corruption of small to large power holders. Your elected officials are shiny truth in comparison. Bureaucrats do not require bashish [different terms in each country] or bribes to accept your paperwork as is the common practice elsewhere. You needn't hire an intermediary for a driver license renewal or a passport etc.

I've often thought it would be so beneficial to send unemployed to 3rd world countries for 3 months in a Peace Corp or UN type program to understand what poverty looks like - up close. University profs and media talking heads should be required to live off-shore before writing/describing other countries and their cultures.

[gloriachargersxoxo85]

not yet, but we are on our way to become one..

[rj.phila]

Originally Posted by snafu

Your elected officials are shiny truth in comparison.

i guess it's all relative, but this quote brought a chuckle. revolving door? there's blurry line btw public and private sector in alot of ways here.

also, it's not fair to talk about america as a homogenized place. if it was 2004-2005 and you lived in NOLA, then yes, your american experience was very close to 3rd world. if it was 2007 and you lived in the upper east side of NYC, then no. there's a myriad of experiences in the USA...some are quite close to 3rd world.

[Krazykat]

Originally Posted by snafu

Snodog: One thing that keeps 3rd world countries so poor is the graft and corruption of small to large power holders. Your elected officials are shiny truth in comparison. Bureaucrats do not require bashish [different terms in each country] or bribes to accept your paperwork as is the common practice elsewhere. You needn't hire an intermediary for a driver license renewal or a passport etc.

I've often thought it would be so beneficial to send unemployed to 3rd world countries for 3 months in a Peace Corp or UN type program to understand what poverty looks like - up close. University profs and media talking heads should be required to live off-shore before writing/describing other countries and their cultures.

wow. That is wrong. That is grouping all the unemployed as one and placing blame on their situation on them. they don't live in a third world country, they live in America. They paid for those employment benefits. Our American companies lay off our workers and go to those third world countries for cheap labor, relaxed laws, low taxes, little if any regulation.

[Krazykat]

Originally Posted by gloriachargersxoxo85

not yet, but we are on our way to become one..

How is that? Greece isn't one and it has double our unemployment rate as many other countries.