Is the United States Third World?

For the last fifty years or so we have heard a lot about the “Third World”. So who are the first and who are the second?

To answer this you must first determine, by which standard you are going by.

Some say, that the first world, is that of the first great empires, Egypt, Greece and Rome. The second, being that of the countries they “civilized”, such as Europe and western Asia. All others were third world.

Others say that the first world was the democratic countries of the west, the second being the communist countries and the third world being the non-aligned.

Today, people tend to think that the first world is the developed countries, the second being the developing countries and the third being the under developed countries.

OK, let’s take the last one. Under developed, how?

Let’s take Freedom of the Press. The US is 16^th in world rankings, behind Jamaica. That makes Jamaica 1^st world?

Let’s take education. The US is 17^th in world ranking, behind some so called “developing” countries. That makes the US 2^nd world?

Let’s take freedom. The United States tops the list for number of people imprisoned, 756 out of every 100,000. What’s that 3^rd world?

OK, let’s talk finance as; after all, it is money that makes the world go round.

In economic freedom the US is 8^th. However, no other 1^st, 2^nd or either 3^rd world country has as bigger debt as the US. Yes you say; we have to remember that the US is very populace. Divide the debt by the population, you do the math and find out how close to the bottom of country rankings the US is.

So, what is third world?

Is it just a derogatory term used to describe somebody from a, so called, poorer country.

Is it considered that these 3^rd world countries are not so humane?

Most, so called, 3^rd world countries MANDATE, that workers are entitled to X days paid vacation per year. In the US however, there is no mandate, unless you work for Government or a Union.

Is this really a humane and fair way to treat workers? Or, is it just that non Government or non Union workers are from the 3^rd world and not used to or deserving of 1^st world treatment?

The United Nations should clarify by what standard they refer to a 3^rd world. Is it: Historic, Geographic, Political, Economic or Humanitarian. The US should then take a long hard think, before assuming, that they are 1^st world.

Perhaps I should first wait till criteria are set and standards agreed before I again ask “IS the United States Third World?’