Does America have an obligation to become a third world nation?

[Lost Soul]

In order to be fair to all the poor people of the world, does the United States have an obligation to become a third world nation too so it can share more of its wealth?

[Ody]

No, a good deal of our wealth was ACTUALLY produced by american industry.

[Nehustan]

I replied no, but I will qualify my answer. If one looks at the population of America and it's 'ecological footprint' (i.e. it's double that of Western Europe) it is quite clear that there is no requirement for the USA (or Western European Nations) to become 'third world' to allow a considerable increase in the standard of life across the planet. As a subtext, try telling some of the people in New Orleans that parts of the USA aren't third world, let's take literacy as a marker, mysteriously missing from US statistics on the UN site.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Nehustan

I replied no, but I will qualify my answer. If one looks at the population of America and it's 'ecological footprint' (i.e. it's double that of Western Europe) it is quite clear that there is no requirement for the USA (or Western European Nations) to become 'third world' to allow a considerable increase in the standard of life across the planet.

I was just thinking that we don't have to lower our standard of living, just get more efficient about it and eliminating a bit of the outrageous excess.

Also, I think we can *raise* the standard of living around the world by putting an end to conflict and oppression, which is much of the reason preventing peoples from creating wealth and prosperity in those parts of the world in the first place.

As a subtext, try telling some of the people in New Orleans that parts of the USA aren't third world, let's take literacy as a marker, mysteriously missing from US statistics on the UN site.

Hm, I had no idea our literacy stats were missing. That's rather amazing, because I'm sure there are some to be had from reliable sources.

I got this off the CIA website:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

[Ody]

Originally Posted by Booko

I got this off the CIA website:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Bias can be argued.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by AlanGurvey

Bias can be argued.

Definitely. There were some other sites on the subject, but they were written in educationalese and couldn't be bothered to present anything simple like a PERCENTAGE <sigh>

[Jaymes]

Definitely no. I haven't heard anyone arguing this as though it was a valid idea, though.

[Lost Soul]

Originally Posted by Jensa

Definitely no. I haven't heard anyone arguing this as though it was a valid idea, though.

Well someone is decent enough to agree with me even if it's not YOU.

[Jaymes]

Originally Posted by Lost Soul

Well someone is decent enough to agree with me even if it's not YOU.

Why do you think we should become a third world nation?

[Lost Soul]

So the poor in the world can share in your wealth.