Are we truly an arrogant bunch of people?

Question

What I mean is I just answered a question where some one was pointing out that America (U.S.A.) has areas that are like a 3rd world country. How is this even remotely possible.. I've traveled to a lot of different states in the U.S. and been to a lot cities and towns... Some where extremely poor... But not once have I ever seen
Children half clothed and so skinny that they can't even stand up.
Houses made of sod and grass.
No way of obtaining food, water or medicine.
9 yr. old kids and younger who have to work everyday of their life instead of attending school so that they can feed their other siblings due to their parents early deaths.
A government who has no programs (absolutely NONE) availiable to assist those who are poor and disabled. (we have hundreds if not more organizations and programs that help our poor).
Have you seen such conditions in the U.S.A. If so how can you just walk by without helping a child in that position.. We have places that can help.

question I answered:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070606091527AATGSSO&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTVUVFTBx5R3HcaLffvZxTAhTz9SWh4O7A--&paid=answered#MKJqOHbNMznN9fYF87Oi

I'm not saying that we don't have our problems.... BUT I wouldn't go as far as saying we compare to 3rd world countries.... We need to clean up our poverty and help the poor as much as possible. But there are countries that are entirely poverty stricken... We only have some areas in cities or some small towns that we need to pay attention to. Maybe i'm just to soft hearted, but with all the opprotunity in this country, I don't see how we even begin to compare.

Answer 1

I cited a UN report
Parts of the United States are as poor as the Third World, according to a shocking United Nations report on global inequality.

The document constitutes a stinging attack on US policies at home and abroad in a fightback against moves by Washington to undermine next week's UN 60th anniversary conference which will be the biggest gathering of world leaders in history.

The annual Human Development Report normally concerns itself with the Third World, but the 2005 edition scrutinises inequalities in health provision inside the US as part of a survey of how inequality worldwide is retarding the eradication of poverty.

It reveals that the infant mortality rate has been rising in the US for the past five years - and is now the same as Malaysia. America's black children are twice as likely as whites to die before their first birthday.

The report is bound to incense the Bush administration as it provides ammunition for critics who have claimed that the fiasco following Hurricane Katrina shows that Washington does not care about poor black Americans. But the 370-page document is critical of American policies towards poverty abroad as well as at home. And, in unusually outspoken language, it accuses the US of having "an overdeveloped military strategy and an under-developed strategy for human security".

"There is an urgent need to develop a collective security framework that goes beyond military responses to terrorism," it continues. " Poverty and social breakdown are core components of the global security threat."

The document, which was written by Kevin Watkins, the former head of research at Oxfam, will be seen as round two in the battle between the UN and the US, which regards the world body as an unnecessary constraint on its strategic interests and actions.

Sorry if the truth hurts.It is what it is .Somehow I doubt that the folks who suffer these condition will answer this question.

Answer 2

The situation is not that dire. Probably the only people who live in conditions similar to those in a 3rd world are the homeless. Other than that yes we have poor people who are in dire situations, but consider what we think is poor compared to what others think is poor. To us a poor person probably still has A/C color TV still able to have food daily and still has access to education. Things people in the thrid world do not have. I am not trying to diminish poverty, because it is still a problem in the USA just look at places like Camden, NJ, but what I am trying to say is the situation for the poor in the US and other rich countries is much less of a problem compared to places like India, Ghana and much of the third world. Where the government can not provide the most basic of services to its poor.

Answer 3

WELL

As a foreigner, here is what I noticed from the US:

- Landing to Newark, miles and miles or garbage mountain are along the shuttle to NY: Environmental management like a 1/3 world country
- Low technical quality of buildings
- Most unefficient cars in the world
- A lot of people living in poverty, in debts, just some paychecks away from bankruptcy
- Not everybody has acces to health care
- Same for the education
- Healthy food is a "luxury product"
- A lot of people work endlessly for minimal wages
- Large wealth disparities (typical from third world countries)
- Low level of education and a lot of superstitions
- High alcoholism
- High crime rate

Answer 4

Not that they don't want to be left alone but an example of that type of living can be found on Indian Reservations. I know that they like to be left alone, but just wanted to point out it did exist. I have seen it first hand.

On the note of actual living in the US...no real 3rd world conditions but bad 2nd world conditions for sure.

Answer 5

you have to look at it from another perspective, what is a third world country. a country that does not earn enought to feed its people. sometimes its classified depending on the per capita income of each individual. Yes america has places that fit the profil of a third world country, people dont have to be naked or anything.its a big country u would be stupid to believe everywhere is like where u live.

Answer 6

We do have problems, but not 3rd world problems. 3rd world problems would be bands of government soldiers running around our streets stealing food, raping women, and killing people; mass starvation; disease plaguing the entire country.

So I'd say anyone comparing our poor areas with, say, Darfur, is definitely arrogant. Or ignorant. But can you be arrogant without having a bit of ignorance? That's another issue entirely.

Answer 7

I agree..... I deal with the porest of the poor...but even the homeless i deal with on a day to day basis are clothed, and provided with meals, are transported to emrgency rooms for medical care..... Some people just dont understand that if they would like their position on an arguemnet to be taken seriously, and hope tho change others minds, their arguement has to have some resemblance to reality

Answer 8

Clearly, they don't understand what the conditions are really like in a Third World nation.

Answer 9

actually i have i seen kids sell drugs to buy food money because of their 1 parent death i seen this but in a modern way

Answer 10

i agree