Here's an article about US political trends that I found rather compelling: [link]

The most striking quote (to me):

"Burton and his colleagues spent the early months of 2012 trying out the pitch that Romney was the most far-right presidential candidate since Barry Goldwater. It fell flat. The public did not view Romney as an extremist. For example, when Priorities informed a focus group that Romney supported the Ryan budget plan — and thus championed “ending Medicare as we know it” — while also advocating tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, the respondents simply refused to believe any politician would do such a thing."

So you're not thinking of corrupt government and paucity of infrastructure in the aame breath as my native land?

Are there second-world countries?

That was the Soviet bloc which no long exists. Unlike "Third World" the term did not mutate.

So you're not thinking of corrupt government and paucity of infrastructure in the aame breath as my native land?

That is the reality - not the stereotype. Not really a surprise that people are wrong. I guess maybe a surprise that they are wrong about this. Popular culture portrayals and really good PR by whoever promotes y9ur tourism.

For example, when Priorities informed a focus group that Romney supported the Ryan budget plan — and thus championed “ending Medicare as we know it” — while also advocating tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, the respondents simply refused to believe any politician would do such a thing."

I am horrified by this. But not surprised. People really seem to put as much belief in their actual stated intentions as I do in the claims that the President is not a citizen and a secret Muslim. I feel like I have factual accuracy on my side but they probably do too. It's a mess. And no one seems to think talking together and looking for compromise is worthwhile.

I don't know how much a compromise can do. If we are discussing lunch, and I want Italian, and you want Mexican we can probably work something out. But If you want Mexican, and I suggest tire rims and anthrax, at that point you might reconsider who you want to eat lunch with - and certainly would not try to find a compromise.

I just exhibited my first world status by culling 2 big boxes of clothes from my closets. All but 2 items are things I can no longer wear (those two sweaters fit, but they are wool and I can't wear wool, too itchy.) This was spontaneously brought on when I couldn't find a hanger for the two new tops I got and thought this is ridiculous, I just bought hangers and BOOM! there was a culling frenzy.

I should never need to buy another hanger ever again. HMOG.

Though I think it might be time to revisit "-world" definitions, because countries with dysfunctional unstable governments, marginal infrastructures, robber baron/colonialist economies, or your classic 'failed states' (cf Somalia, Haiti, North Korea, Afghanistan, East Timor) surely deserve a lower gradation than Third.

My link upthread addresses that, although there are a couple of differing definitions for fourth world. One is another economic tier and the other is for indigenous populations.

Not knowing anything about the world, basically, I will stick to what I do know:

I KNOW! Did you see the one where the guy was stalking the woman through her Facebook page? I immediately signed out of Facebook and vowed never to check in any where.

Oh, I would never! I feel like a stalker when people I know use Foursquare, and it's not even my fault.

I've been challenged or questioned on the 3rd world thing more times than makes sense. Of course I'm not wrong. But I don't find it flattering that people stop at the stereotype of my home, and incomprehensible that they think they are right where I am not.