Third World

We’ve often heard the term “third world” used in reference to the world’s least developed nations. By implication there would be first and second world nations, although I’ve yet to hear the terms used. It would be an interesting exercise to explore how the top two thirds of this hierarchy might be divided.

Your friendly neighborhood xenophobe would probably insist that America is the only first world nation, with other developed nations somewhere in the vast space between us and, say, Somalia. This argument is valid to a point.

In the context of a “super power” there’s no doubt about our unique standing. As to our being the world’s richest it depends on how one measures wealth. A case could be made for China, or even Saudi Arabia, although there are those who might question whether the latter is “developed.” We’ve been first in space exploration for some time, as well as technology, although in the latter case I’ve been hearing of technical innovations developed abroad that have eluded us. Maybe we just weren’t interested. Our higher education has been of such quality that many people from other countries come here to benefit from it.

On the other hand primary education is an area where our presumed superiority breaks down. Our ranking varies with the source of information. But by any measurement we’re well down in the second half in reading skills, mathematics and, I suspect, logic. The right wing has fought successfully to keep us near the bottom in health care. Our system is a disgrace, unless you consider the rest of the developed world wrong. Granted, our medical schools have attracted students worldwide and wealthy foreigners have sought care from our doctors. But the end result of our system of distributing care to our citizens is a place well down on the list of life expectancy. When it comes to equality of wealth distribution we might be last were it not for good old Saudi Arabia.  In this case the gap has been growing for thirty years so we might even pass them on our way. Our deference to Wall Street has created world problems resulting from the global influence of our failing financial community. Our cooperation in international environmental matters can be described as piggish.

I don’t watch TV “professional” wrestling longer than it takes to change channels. But in my farming years I had occasion to see it in person at the station in Dothan, Alabama during the spare time preceding several appearances there with some of my cows. I’d never witnessed anything approaching the wild rage of the spectators, as I recall the most conspicuous being older women, while one gladiator was going through the motions of pummeling a local favorite. They have now been one upped by the tea baggers.

There always have and will be people of this sort and not only in America. But if poll numbers are an indication of how many of us they represent and we also consider the pistol packin’ papas, when it comes to civility we are beginning to look more third world every day.