4 ms·
While I understand why people tend to put all of South America under the same umbrella, saying that all South American countries are failed states is a bit too
by probably_wrong 5y ago
While I understand why people tend to put all of South America under the same umbrella, saying that all South American countries are failed states is a bit too much. Uruguay in particular is doing really well.
- the_af 5y ago> While I understand why people tend to put all of South America under the same umbrella The only explanation is rampant ignorance. How could one consider that, say, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia are all "under the same umbrella" except by simply failing to pay attention in school? It's like saying that every country in North America is more or less the same.
- eplanit 5y agoYou mean the 2 North American countries? Yes, the U.S. and Canada are similar in that they have functioning economies, and citizenry that is not desperately trying to flee.
- the_af 5y agoI expect more than this kind of ignorance from an HN reader. The US and Canada are not the same just because they both have functioning economies. Even worse, "South American countries" in general don't have their populace "desperately trying to flee". Some might, many don't. The phrase "South American countries", as if Brazil and Argentina for example were a single entity, is so stupid it boggles the mind. Here's my suggestion to you: educate yourself, learn about other countries, and stop making blanket, incorrect and offensive statements.
- eplanit 5y agoI think you can use some enlightenment, as well. You should visit the US/Mexico border to see the "some". Generalizations are never 100% complete (by definition). But so much poverty and corruption, and so much desperate migration, sustained for such a long time (decades) is a picture of overall failure. Mexico has the fewest excuses. It is perfectly positioned in the middle of the earth, with coasts on both the Atlantic and Pacific, and with abundant resources. They could be an economic _powerhouse_, with trade relations with the entire world (thing manufacturing, shipping, ...) if they could get it together (and I hope they do). But, history seems to show that isn't likely for a long time, if ever.
- the_af 5y ago> Generalizations are never 100% complete (by definition) Yet you decided it was a good idea to call out "South American countries". It's not too late to admit you made a mistake, you know. At this point you don't even know (nor seem to care) if you're arguing specifically about Mexico, all of South America or what. Canada and the US being considered the same doesn't bide well for the quality of your generalizations, either.
- handrous 5y agoYou're encountering trouble in this thread because your understanding of geography appears to be very different from most people's, e.g. writing that Canada and the US are the only to countries in North America (while common definitions would include Mexico), or writing "South America" where you (I think?) mean what most would call "Central America".
- SllX 5y agoNorth America includes everything from and including Panama northward, including the Caribbean, and Greenland. Ain’t just the US and Canada.
- stickfigure 5y agoThere are three countries in North America.
- Teknoman117 5y agoRampant ignorance is right. At least in my subjective experience as an American, public education about South America pretty much stopped after the beginning of Europe’s colonial expansion. Unless you studied it in college or on your own time, the only people who know much of anything about South American countries are people who’s social circles contain people from South America.