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Ikkon t1_ixz7u9a wrote

Reply to comment by Zagacity in Charted: Income Distributions in 16 Different Countries by TheThinker12

As far as education is concerned, America always ranks as one of the best countries in the world, both when rating public schools and higher education institutions. In case of the later, America is rated MUCH higher than any country other than the UK. America has the most prestigious universities in the world, even smaller American school rank higher than top universities in other countries. Life expectancy is one of the weaker aspects of America, but still, it ranks as above average on the global scale. And I don't understand the infrastructure aspect. Besides passenger rail, most of American infrastructure is great.

America as a whole ranges from being the best to being above average. Comparing it to a third world country in any way is simply incorrect

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folstar t1_ixzn7az wrote

Public education? We don't crack the top 20 and it is getting worse.

Life expectancy. Kind of funny to use the global scale instead of comparing to other OECD countries, especially while claiming NOT a third-world country. Then add in our voracious health spending while leaving people without basic care. It's not a pretty picture.

Infrastructure. Besides passenger rail... cycling, walking, buses, and everything else that isn't a car.

Funny enough, these three all have something in common. We spend a shitload of money on each for worse outcomes. But since $ big, we call it a win- USA! USA! USA!

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-ranks-27th-for-healthcare-and-education-2018-9

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Ikkon t1_ixzxmbp wrote

When it comes to education in OECD, the US ranked 19th in students skills, ahead of France and Spain and just behind Norway. And the difference between the highest rated countries are tiny. America scored 495, Austria 491, France 494, Norway 497, the UK 503, and the best country is Estonia at 526. So American students perform at the same level as western European students. For comparison, Mexico scored 416 and South Africa 390.

When it comes to educational attainment, so population with at least upper-secondary education, America scored 8th, ahead of Finland, Switzerland and Germany and on par with Canada.

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/education/

>Kind of funny to use the global scale instead of comparing to other OECD countries

Because when you state a country is a "third world country" you have to actually compare it to third world countries. By being well above global average the country cannot be a third world country. When it comes to life expectancy America is on par with Eastern EU, which is still one of the richest regions in the world.

Life expectancy in America is 78.9 years, the average for central Europe is 77.27 years, and the average for the entire EU is 80.5. Japan, the highest rated OECD member is at 84.4. World average is 72.75, and DR Congo, an actual third world country, is at 60.97. So America is above average on the global scale, average for the OECD, and significantly better than actual third world countries.

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/health/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_life_expectancy

So no, I wouldn't call America a third world country. It is a very rich country with some issues.

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trenomas t1_iy0wygd wrote

The US is a big place. Most of our public schools are rather poor in all the metrics that matter. It's a patchwork of infrastructure that prioritizes wealth. Most of the US's systems, for low-income individuals, undermines success and embroil them in debt and incarceration, systems that empower the wealthy.

Look at cancer alley. Look at Flint Michigan. Look at overpolicing in communities of color by white officers. Look at the crumbling rail systems that keep getting sidelined in favor of car infrastructure despite the objective efficiencies in a rail economy.

For some it really is comparable to a third world country. That's not to say we are or aren't, because again the place is huge.

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