Third World Countries

[Snaquebite]

You know, I travelled to a lot of third world countries in my life. With all the things that are happening to and in this country it's a strange sensation to feel like I'm living in one here in the United States.

[spottedmedic111]

You're not alone. That's why I'm retiring to a farm and getting back to basics.

[Tree Potato]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

You know, I travelled to a lot of third world countries in my life. With all the things that are happening to and in this country it's a strange sensation to feel like I'm living in one here in the United States.

Sir, wow, I experienced that sensation last night at a Walmart in Maryland.

Just like in a third world country, Americans can't be trusted to walk out of Walmart with merchandise after paying for it (a receipt checker saw me pay and walk straight to the door, yet barked/gesticulated wildly at me to present a receipt). The guy apparently couldn't read, because the receipt accidentally handed over was from Giant grocery yet he circled the amount and put his check mark on it without skipping a beat. Immediately "third world jobs program" popped to mind...his only purpose was to put a pink check mark on whatever receipt-like thing was handed to him and collect a paycheck. No way could he stop anyone from exiting if they wanted to, and some people just walked right past ignoring his frantic gestures.

The walk through the parking lot reinforced the third world sensation. It was like returning to Mexico, Sicily, the back streets of Doha, or any city in Iraq. It didn't feel like America; it felt like a run down, filthy, dangerous, dirt lot outside a street market in any poor country, where people have no courtesy and the sounds are mostly people arguing, kids whining, and obscenities being hurled between car horn blasts in every language other than English. The mid-80's compact cars belching smoke and squealing from worn out belts and pulleys, held together with duct tape and wire clothes hangars, one sporting a donut tire and more kids than seatbelts, was just icing on the crap cake.

Supreme Court Justice Stewart once had trouble describing pornography but said "I know it when I see it"...the same could be said about third world culture and the way people behave and treat each other. It was like a punch in the gut last night experiencing third world cultural interaction in suburban America. This thread was oddly reassuring in that it's not just me seeing this.

So thank you. I think.

[Richard]

And so it goes...

Richard

[Joker]

Agree. The politicians and their corruption, the fleecing of their constituents, the degradation of rights, moral decline of the populace, the stifling of the students free thinking, the forcing of PC and others' opinions upon others as mandatory, the Government not following the laws of the land, spying on its citizens, Robinhooding (wealth redistribution), forced purchases (Nobama Careless).

[Snaquebite]

Originally Posted by Joker

Agree. The politicians and their corruption, the fleecing of their constituents, the degradation of rights, moral decline of the populace, the stifling of the students free thinking, the forcing of PC and others' opinions upon others as mandatory, the Government not following the laws of the land, spying on its citizens, Robinhooding (wealth redistribution), forced purchases (Nobama Careless).

EXACTLY

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

Sir, what makes you feel like America is becoming a third world country?

OK, maybe not 3rd world however, would you go for a "quasi" dictator running the show?

[Streck-Fu]

I want to think that the citizens of this country must be reaching the breaking point soon. Somehow, in the near future, even this administration's more ardent supporters have to wake up and realize how screwed up this is.

Then this happens:

Anita Windley, 30, who voted for Mr. Obama in 2008 and again in 2012, doesn't think he's doing enough to help people in her New York City neighborhood. She complains that jobs are still hard to find and the local schools are subpar. "It's time for somebody new," she said, "like Hillary."

[Lan]

Interesting view Snaquebite. I've never been to a third world country, but I do not like the way our country is headed.

The following is matter of opinion, from a myopic understanding of how the world works. Until we can elect politicians who won't accept bribes from coporations, I see no end to the corruption plauging The United States. I think about the idea often; how can we foster real change that benefits the citizens, who pay the wages of politicians who care about the needs of themselves over ours? How do we strip rights away from corporations without them packing up and shipping the operations to countries that lower their tax liability? Would they stay here because they're afforded safety from the sacrifice of our Military?

The conservative/liberal choice is an illusion which divides us; it draws attention away from real problems which affect all of us. If Obama really cared about gun violence for example, he'd address inner city crime. The uneducated, most of which have no positive role models in their lives are a problem, which if addressed, rather than talked about, would reduce the burden of hard working Americans and make our country stronger. Our choice is Coke or Pepsi, and I think honest hard working people are ready for beer.

If all politicians were forcibly removed from office, how would we choose honest people who care about our freedom instead of lining their pockets? If the 1100 Green Berets who signed the Second Ammendment letter ran The United States, we'd all be better off. It's hard to corrupt people who have integrity, but it's even harder to elect someone who's not funded by elitists because they won't fall in line with an agenda.

Our rights are being slowly chipped away. If nothing is done, we will lose the ability to converse like this, and the ability to protect ourselves from an oppressive government. The slow erosion of our rights is the problem. Politicians know they can't take it all away at once. Two steps in the wrong direction, one step in our favor. The problems are known, but what is the solution? What is the tipping point?

Part of what makes us strong is our economical might. We need corporations that provide us with jobs, but there's got to be a way that favors us over them. Would taking the rights of coporations under the First and Fourteenth Ammendments be a good start? I think so.

[mojaveman]

I've seen the changes here in Southern California. The part of town I live in was for many years a white bread middle class neighborhood. A number of Mexican families have moved in the area and the standard seems to be at least two families living in the same house, too many dogs, junk automobiles parked in the driveway or yard, landscaping that doesn't fit in with the rest of the community, children running wild and Mexican polka music played at loud volume.

I keep code enforcement busy.

About half of the fast food restaurants and service stations where I live are staffed by illegals. In the poorer areas that really look like Mexico or South America the people won't even speak English to you or the police or other officials.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by mojaveman

I want America back.

Mee too! Come to the Midwest! I will supply the BBQ and Beer!!!

Here in this part of Our Nation, (the exact center of east and west coast,) America IS STILL HERE.

Yep things suck in politics, yep, things suck in the court systems, and yep things SUCK in the leadership of this Country...

BUT, America IS STILL HERE!!! Caring folks, who take in Orphans, volunteer at VA Hospitals, and Salute The Flag are STILL HERE!

All is not lost, IMVSHO.

Holly