A rant: The USA is now a third-world country.

[Former President tack50]

This thread and the other one make it obvious that Atlas desperately needs more posters from actual third-world countries. Or least some with more than a passing interest in them.

Trying to think of posters from third world countries indeed we have none. Opebo is the closest thing (sexpat in Thailand) but that barely counts. Lewis Trondheim also lived in India for a while I think?

I guess the next closest thing we have are our Latin American posters; like Alex (Argentina), the S-Brazil poster whose name currently eludes me or ag (Mexico).

But even if you want to call Latin America "third world" (which is already a huge stretch) there is a huge gap between say, Argentina or Mexico and the likes of Nigeria and what not.

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

This thread and the other one make it obvious that Atlas desperately needs more posters from actual third-world countries. Or least some with more than a passing interest in them.

Trying to think of posters from third world countries indeed we have none. Opebo is the closest thing (sexpat in Thailand) but that barely counts. Lewis Trondheim also lived in India for a while I think?

I guess the next closest thing we have are our Latin American posters; like Alex (Argentina), the S-Brazil poster whose name currently eludes me or ag (Mexico).

But even if you want to call Latin America "third world" (which is already a huge stretch) there is a huge gap between say, Argentina or Mexico and the likes of Nigeria and what not.

The Brazilian poster is called buritobr. Also, who is ag?

In any case I doubt this is going to change anytime soon.

It also depends on how much you are willing to define "from actual third-world countries", like, even if opebo was not actually Thai I imagine he had far more perspective on the Third World than pretty much anyone else here. Also, do you count immigrants?

[Former President tack50]

This thread and the other one make it obvious that Atlas desperately needs more posters from actual third-world countries. Or least some with more than a passing interest in them.

Trying to think of posters from third world countries indeed we have none. Opebo is the closest thing (sexpat in Thailand) but that barely counts. Lewis Trondheim also lived in India for a while I think?

I guess the next closest thing we have are our Latin American posters; like Alex (Argentina), the S-Brazil poster whose name currently eludes me or ag (Mexico).

But even if you want to call Latin America "third world" (which is already a huge stretch) there is a huge gap between say, Argentina or Mexico and the likes of Nigeria and what not.

The Brazilian poster is called buritobr. Also, who is ag?

In any case I doubt this is going to change anytime soon.

It also depends on how much you are willing to define "from actual third-world countries", like, even if opebo was not actually Thai I imagine he had far more perspective on the Third World than pretty much anyone else here. Also, do you count immigrants?

No, I am excluding immigrants from this count

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

This thread and the other one make it obvious that Atlas desperately needs more posters from actual third-world countries. Or least some with more than a passing interest in them.

Trying to think of posters from third world countries indeed we have none. Opebo is the closest thing (sexpat in Thailand) but that barely counts. Lewis Trondheim also lived in India for a while I think?

I guess the next closest thing we have are our Latin American posters; like Alex (Argentina), the S-Brazil poster whose name currently eludes me or ag (Mexico).

But even if you want to call Latin America "third world" (which is already a huge stretch) there is a huge gap between say, Argentina or Mexico and the likes of Nigeria and what not.

The Brazilian poster is called buritobr. Also, who is ag?

In any case I doubt this is going to change anytime soon.

It also depends on how much you are willing to define "from actual third-world countries", like, even if opebo was not actually Thai I imagine he had far more perspective on the Third World than pretty much anyone else here. Also, do you count immigrants?

No, I am excluding immigrants from this count

Well I am not sure how right that is.

A hypothetical man who immigrated here from Nigeria fifteen years ago, in his 20's, and were now an Italian citizen, would presumably have an Italian avatar if he were on this forum, but it wouldn't mean his perspective on Nigeria would not count.

[mgop]

i think it does becoming. several months ago with all those protests, militias etc. when something like that happen in other countries, media use words like insurgency or revolution. i mean it's not in any way normal that when man in MINNESOTA is murdered by police, MISSISSIPPI change it's flag, and sports team form WASHINGTON DC change their logo and name. those are the things that happen in third world countries, people don't have money for food and corrupt politicians decide that it's time to change flag or anthem.

[Former President tack50]

Actually after looking at a list of countries by GDP per capita PPP, it seems that our poster from the poorest country might actually be Andjey, from Ukraine. (10000$ on GDP PPP per capita; lower than Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and most of Latin America)

Interesting, especially considering how not many would consider Ukraine as "third world" (then again Latin America is also not really considered that way either)

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

Actually after looking at a list of countries by GDP per capita PPP, it seems that our poster from the poorest country might actually be Andjey, from Ukraine. (10000$ on GDP PPP per capita; lower than Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and most of Latin America)

Interesting, especially considering how not many would consider Ukraine as "third world" (then again Latin America is also not really considered that way either)

Wow, Ukraine's placement on that list is strange.

He is probably the recordholder (together with the other couple Ukrainian posters, like Color Revolutionary). The most realistic possibilities he is not is if we have someone living in India or Morocco or Jamaica.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

We needed a Federal Jobs Guarentee and Green Jobs together would have enabled Obama to do the things he wanted to, but Obama stuck with the old system and kept Federal Jobs for the well to do, just like in Chicago, as I left Chicago, due to the same system, City Jobs were only for the priviledged.

We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the advantaged, as we have to rebuild from the Pandemic, old system wont work

[The Free North]

There's a lot of wealth here and therefore some very rich areas that bring the average up, but thanks to America's failed system of governance in the past few decades and perhaps throughout its history, parts of it would qualify as Third World countries. The Black Belt, Native American reservations, Appalachia, certain very poor Rust Belt cities like Gary, Flint, Johnstown, etc. all have atrocious quality of life issues, often lack of access to sufficient sanitation facilities, opportunities, and jobs, with high levels of consumer and medical debt. OP is right on the money, but there's a lot of people on this forum who think Seattle is a representative example of the United States.

None of those places are remotely comparable to Chad. Or Niger. Or anywhere in the 3rd world by whatever metric you'd like to use.

[Anni di ghiaccio]

There's a lot of wealth here and therefore some very rich areas that bring the average up, but thanks to America's failed system of governance in the past few decades and perhaps throughout its history, parts of it would qualify as Third World countries. The Black Belt, Native American reservations, Appalachia, certain very poor Rust Belt cities like Gary, Flint, Johnstown, etc. all have atrocious quality of life issues, often lack of access to sufficient sanitation facilities, opportunities, and jobs, with high levels of consumer and medical debt. OP is right on the money, but there's a lot of people on this forum who think Seattle is a representative example of the United States.

None of those places are remotely comparable to Chad. Or Niger. Or anywhere in the 3rd world by whatever metric you'd like to use.

Chad and Niger aren't the extent of the Third World. These regions of America live in abject conditions that resemble developing nations that are usually considered "Third World" although there's no strict definition of what that means in a post-Cold War context.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

https://mobile.twitter.com/chadloder/status/1305280179414028288

I suppose this is more "banana republic dictatorship" than "third world", but there's a lot of overlap.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

https://twitter.com/revrrlewis/status/1305465605156372481

[Skye]

I come from a third-world country.


You aren't anywhere close to becoming a third-world country.

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

Some people literally just need to search "Favela de Rocinha" or "Dharavi slum" on Google Images methinks.

[The Righteous Tip of the Abundance Spear]

Talking of Atlas posters from poorer countries, I'm a little surprised that the site doesn't have any active posters who live in India considering how active they are on other parts of the English-speaking internet. It's not for a lack of interest in US politics.

Yeah, there are tons of Indians on Quora. That's strange.

[Chief Justice PiT]

I come from a third-world country.


You aren't anywhere close to becoming a third-world country.

     The idea that America is even close to being third-world is gut-bustingly hilarious, and speaks volumes about how soft we as a people have gotten.

[dead0man]

We should be happy we only have 3 posters dumb/ignorant enough to think this is a good point.  I honestly would have assumed higher.

[Donald Trump’s Toupée]

Also, there are no such thing as first, second, or third worlds anymore - these terms were specifically related to the Cold War and the Soviet Union.

I believe it’s now Developed, Developing, and Underdeveloped Countries.

I do get your point but to suggest the US isn’t a developed nation? I don’t know what to tell you. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

"Third-world" may not be the right term, but the health of the American political system has declined steeply under Donald Trump's time in office. We are all the proverbial frogs in slowly boiling water, numbed to the ongoing corrosion and destruction of our society.

Consider, in just one single day,  the actor playing at being the President of the United States:

-was revealed to have blocked a Post Office plan to help protect Americans from a deadly pandemic.

-had a federal judge issue an injunction against his "politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service"

-saw a former aid to his own Vice President publicly support his opponent because of his "flat-out disregard for human life" 

-is being accused of sexually assaulting a former model

-is publicly fighting with his own CDC head

-called a press conference to complain about "the liberal indoctrination of America's youth" (while a hurricane rolls ashore, the West burns, and a pandemic still sweeps the nation).

-had one of his prominent political allies call on him to release the tax returns he's been hiding for years

-accused his own FBI of protecting "violent anarchists and thugs"

-asked for volunteers to "Fight for President Trump"



That's one day.  And just some of the most egregious stuff. Prior to Donnie Dumb****'s infestation of our government, high-ranking public officials might have survived one or two such incidents in a career of public service. Now, the entire deathly dangerous criminal farce is "business as usual".

We weren't flawless before Donald Trump, and we won't be anywhere close to perfect if we manage to rid ourselves of him and his most egregious lackeys. But make no mistakes. Our nation is in the process of going over a cliff. We have one more chance to slam on the brakes and try to grab a handhold, but if we do not, our descent will become inevitable.

[Damocles]

I get the sentiment, but the OP is cringe

[Badger]

https://mobile.twitter.com/chadloder/status/1305280179414028288

I suppose this is more "banana republic dictatorship" than "third world", but there's a lot of overlap.

This is the key. We are adopting third world political standards while trying to maintain a first world economy. That is, even as we rapidly Embrace social and economic inequality and erosion of the middle class

[GP270watch]

 The political system is becoming so.

 If Democrats win and add Supreme Court justices they will feel justified because of the total breakdown of norms by Republicans but it doesn't bode well for the country. We are doing now what happens in other countries, instead of installing competent people of character and experience, Republicans have gone for loyalists and appointed heads of government agencies selected by special interests. Federal prosecutors who serve at the pleasure of the President but who were respected with independence are now routinely interfered with and replaced on a whim. The court selections are about appointing hack partisans instead of the most brilliant and prudent legal minds.

 We are heading towards something really bad if we continue on this trajectory.