The U.S. is not a "First World" country.

You said "Seeing “Third World” conditions in the epitome of a “First World” country creates a certain sense of shock in Americans." and I guess they would be shocked to know they don't live in a "First World" nation.

The U.S. is not a "Third World" country either. The U.S. is a "Second World" country like the BRIC's

We are a "First World" military power like Russia and China but they are not "First World" societies either. They and we don't have the social safety nets, the quality of education or universal health care that mark a "First World" society. The U.S. status as a "Second World" society is reflected in our levels of poverty, child mortality, inequality and life expectancy.

TEK