America by definition can not be a 3rd-world country: we were part of NATO. But less pendantically, The US would probably be stronger economically, long term,

America by definition can not be a 3rd-world country: we were part of NATO. But less pendantically, The US would probably be stronger economically, long term, if it phased out much of its war spending and focused it instead on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and R&D. Unfortunately, in the United States, our politicians like to frame non-military spending as some sort of luxury... its all butter, bread, and circus even if its providing boring but essential services to American citizens.