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You casually slandered my entire country and now you have a problem with my tone? What, exactly, do you expect? Especially when you’re just flat out wrong. I’m

You casually slandered my entire country and now you have a problem with my tone? What, exactly, do you expect? Especially when you’re just flat out wrong. I’m not even arguing that the US is the best, merely that it’s clearly a first world country, as evidenced by the incredible prosperity that most Americans participate in. And regarding health care and a social safety net: you should familiarize yourself with Medicaid and our welfare programs. Many of the poorest Americans receive assistance of various kinds, on par with many first world nations.

teh_klev 7y ago
> You casually slandered my entire country I made an observation about the state and its governance, not the inhabitants. These are two quite different things.
- toasterlovin 7y ago
  Alright, I'm out of here. Just for the record, though: only one of us offered any evidence to support their position. And it wasn't you.
  - justinclift 7y ago
    As a data point, "first", "second", "third" world country (the term) means a different thing than you're both trying to convey. It's a literal grouping of countries by an old system, rather than meaning "economic" or "cultural" backwater. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-world_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-world_model As a 2nd data point, the median income response is about economic power. It's obviously possible to be economically strong whilst at the same time having poor culture. There seem to be several current examples of this in the world. :/
    - toasterlovin 7y ago
      You are citing a historic (and outdated) meaning of the three world system. The current meaning is essentially an economic classification: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World “Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the definition has instead largely shifted to any country with little political risk and a well functioning democracy, rule of law, capitalist economy, economic stability, and high standard of living. Various ways in which modern First World countries are often determined include GDP, GNP, literacy rates, life expectancy, and the Human Development Index.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World “Subsequently the actual meaning of the terms "First World", "Second World" and "Third World" changed from being based on political ideology to an economic definition.”
      - justinclift 7y ago
        Thanks, wasn't aware of the change being regarded as anything official. Looks like it could be considered as such these days. :)
  - dang 7y ago
    Starting and perpetuating flamewars will get you banned here. Please don't do that on HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

teh_klev 7y ago

> You casually slandered my entire country I made an observation about the state and its governance, not the inhabitants. These are two quite different things.

toasterlovin 7y ago
Alright, I'm out of here. Just for the record, though: only one of us offered any evidence to support their position. And it wasn't you.
- justinclift 7y ago
  As a data point, "first", "second", "third" world country (the term) means a different thing than you're both trying to convey. It's a literal grouping of countries by an old system, rather than meaning "economic" or "cultural" backwater. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-world_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-world_model As a 2nd data point, the median income response is about economic power. It's obviously possible to be economically strong whilst at the same time having poor culture. There seem to be several current examples of this in the world. :/
  - toasterlovin 7y ago
    You are citing a historic (and outdated) meaning of the three world system. The current meaning is essentially an economic classification: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World “Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the definition has instead largely shifted to any country with little political risk and a well functioning democracy, rule of law, capitalist economy, economic stability, and high standard of living. Various ways in which modern First World countries are often determined include GDP, GNP, literacy rates, life expectancy, and the Human Development Index.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World “Subsequently the actual meaning of the terms "First World", "Second World" and "Third World" changed from being based on political ideology to an economic definition.”
    - justinclift 7y ago
      Thanks, wasn't aware of the change being regarded as anything official. Looks like it could be considered as such these days. :)
- dang 7y ago
  Starting and perpetuating flamewars will get you banned here. Please don't do that on HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html