Is US Becoming a Third World Country?

I like this definition best:

oregonstate.edu/dept/anthropology/glossary2.htm

The World Bank won't call our loans, because a collapsed United States would probably sink a good bit of the world with it. If we became a third-world nation with tons of nukes and state of the military tech, what do you think the hawks would do? Sell it or use it?

 

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i thought they were already doing both!

 

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It wouldn't be like other third world countries. There would be a lot of good used merchandise available for resale. There would be high quality transportation and comunications infrastructure in place.

Perhaps America could rent the services of the world's finest military to various thugs around the globe in exchange for hard currency with which to buy oil.

America's literacy and levels of education are good by third world standards.

Give America ten years to adjust and America would be able to build manufacturing plants to replace much of the output that Amerca is currently receiving from China on credit.

 

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Now that we think about it, a nice depression would be good for America. We would probably come out of it tougher than ever.

 

this is a good thread yes, but the whole 3rd world thing is a but dumb. there are people who have to eat grass and mud to survive and there houses are under a tree or on the floor. America is a long way from that.

 

Hey,

I concur with Clockwood... A good depression is what Americans need in order to get their heads together inregards to what good financial management is all about. Since America has excelent infrastructure in place (telecommunication, transport, police, medical* etc...), with many well educated people... It wouldn't be too long before the Americans would be on their feet again.

Seasons' Greetings to all,
Shifty Russian

 

There is too much unstable heirachy techniques used in American society (from what I know) and it is going to make living alot harder for people who do not inherit stable incomes and housing.
The order is so dependant on the "big people" who spend their money on exspensive "shit" that it is becoming more of a crisis than just how much you have.

 

Throughout history, anything major was payrolled by one of two things. Government or religion.

I would say the current situation involving "big people" is a significant improvement.

 

Again...look at the British experiance post-WWI and WWII, what WWI was to the British this war on terror is to the US, bad news.

 

WW1 was a costly expenditure of a nation that was losing industrial capability at a time when the Global Economic system was established such that Industry is what drove the Economy.

Today, is far different, the US can entirely survive without producing a single thing within its own borders. We own so much of the rest of the world, that their selling of products to the US would make our investors wealthy, which they would then use that wealth to buy things in the US and spread the wealth, so forth and so on.

That's an exaggerated form of the Service Economy, but that is what we are, a Service Economy.

We are good for making Technology and buying stuff, and really that's about it, because as far as producing hard goods, we just don't need to anymore.

 

Hmm...it's because we complain so much, that we keep our freedoms, our way of life, our success, you guys are withering, wallowing in crime (if you're Europeans).

Yes...you have "heard and read lot about that", next time try actually experiencing it. USA is the only nation that has Billionaire Secretaries, our poorest people are fatter than the 3rd world's average "citizen".

We're doing damn well, regardless of any "educational short-comings", and if you call that unfair, then why would you like to think of yourself as being bested by morons?

Because last time I checked, the USA is still the best.

When someone beats me, I concede and say "You're at the top of your game", because I don't like losing to morons.

Europeans, on the other hand, seem to love losing to morons, because they seem to think us near-retarded....

 

I'll just jump in here for a moment, but where I live, the cost of living by yourself is about 15 USD/Hour @40 hours/week, or 30 USD/Hour for 20 hour AKA part time work. The minimum wage is around $5.50 with most people my age making ~10-12. Add school to that, and your quickly in a situation, where your stuck. You can't afford to get a education, not to get a education, or even move to another area.

I realize I could live with others, but if you have met the average 20 year old American, you realize why thats not a option.

 

Typical american behavior...
Nobody envies you. You are not on top. Canada has been on top for many years (not anymore, I don't think). But US is certainly not "the best". Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland are way better than Y.O.U.

Huuuummm.... why do you think they think that way?

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Thank you! There you go!

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Unfortunately, they are not worried about the young folks. They never are. That's why there's always overcrowding. Nobody cares about the kids. Adults polute the world, shop a lot and it is us that have to clean up their mess afterwards...! :bugeye:

 

Where did you check that?

 

Haha, USA still the best... that seems to be a widespread delusion. Now really, the patriot act limits freedom, the government has much more influence than many other western countries, the dollar is loosing footage on the world market and the Euro is preferred in worldwide economy. You hinder people that want to get into you country, you make yourself unpopular by various things (see Iraq war) and that makes the USA loose ground in international business. China is more productive than the US, outsourcing is becoming a big problem.
You social security and healthcare is very basic compared to that of European countries. You have a higher murder rate, more criminality, more social problems and on top of that, you proclaim a freedom that is just a farce.
On and on it goes...

So tell me, what ecactly is so great about your country?

 

WW1 was a costly expenditure of a nation that was losing industrial capability at a time when the Global Economic system was established such that Industry is what drove the Economy.

The US is doing the same thing, the US is losing its industry, its losing its financial clout through her inability to save anything, she is depending on the kindness of strangers, at the very least the Brits had a sizeable current account surplus prior to the war, teh US has no such luxury. If anything the US is in a worse position.

Today, is far different, the US can entirely survive without producing a single thing within its own borders.

The US or US corporations, they are not one in the same.

We own so much of the rest of the world, that their selling of products to the US would make our investors wealthy, which they would then use that wealth to buy things in the US and spread the wealth, so forth and so on.

Yes a cycle that depends on the wilingness of others wiling to buy those American products, and the Chinese and Japanese wiling to buy billions $ worth of treasuries and bonds. Stop that then you got a crisis on your hands.

That's an exaggerated form of the Service Economy, but that is what we are, a Service Economy.

Exactly...lowering wages, complete dependence on China and other manufacturing hubs for the survival of your economy, the US is LOSING money, look at the Current Account.

We are good for making Technology and buying stuff, and really that's about it, because as far as producing hard goods, we just don't need to anymore

Adam Smith would disagree...

 

I saw in the news yesterday that the consumer debt in the US has reached more than 9 trillion dollars!

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It is becoming a third world country, you will see....

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First, the youth will get huge debts becuase tuition fess are so high. Than, they will have to pay massive debts caused by the overcrowding that the Bush goverment is doing, specially due to decreased taxes. Than they will run out of money and the banks won't be receiving money anymore. The dollar will plunge more and more... A recession will follow and destroy the US economy.

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Eh? Withering? In what way? Europe has never been more vibrant? Wallowing in crime? Where have you got your ideas from? Please produce substantiating data if you are going to make outlandish claims.

 

The US will not become a third world country, but like the UK it will depend on emergency loans...etc.

 

Until when will the world sustain the US? Don't you know that if the world stop giving money to the US, the whole US economy will collapse?