By any standard, this prolonged recession has cost us a lot in quality-of-life. Let's do what we can to prevent a further decline.

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The American Dream (flickr image  By Lance Nelson  

Just going by the numbers, the recent downgrade in ranking of the United States to the 31st position in the 2011 Quality-Of-Life Index recently released by Nation Ranking puts it dangerously close to 2nd World nation status. The 137 nations listed, when you divide by 4, shows the U.S. has fallen to within 5 positions of Second-World nation status. 

Currently 2nd World nation status begins with Costa Rica at #36 and ends with Paraguay at #69. Even this rating is controversial, since not everyone would agree that Costa Rica deserves 2nd World nation status more than the U.S., for example. On the same listing, 3rd World nation status begins with Botswana at #70 and ends with Equatorial Guinea at #104 and 4th World nation status begins with Kenya at #105 and ends with Somalia at #137. 

With the latest jobless figures and other economic indicators pointing south and an ongoing lack of cooperation in the U.S. Congress, it is increasingly likely that the 2012 QOL Survey will show that the U.S. has fallen into 2nd World nation status for the first time since quality-of-life data has been compiled and indexed worldwide.

Mark Overt Skilbred

Authors Bio:
I am a writer/blogger who is interested in diplomatic solutions more than all other options, but who recognizes that proper governance must enforce the rule-of-law, especially when its neglect will result in civil war and anarchy. That being said, I support reforms when they do not conflict with God's laws and when society-as-a-whole will benefit from the change. Some of the subjects that interest me include: diplomacy, sustainable food-supply, good-governance, liberal arts, morality, politics, prison-reform, religion, science, sociology and teaching frameworks. I have a Wikizine on Zimbio called "World Diplomacy For The 21st Century And Beyond" where you are welcome to contribute articles and comments. I am interested in promoting suggestions for the improvement of world diplomacy and how its general pursuit may rid itself of useless baggage and other hindrances to diplomacy. Have we learned enough from our mistakes to move toward the solutions that are so desperately needed? Cold-war tactics are a pointless exercise that risk unnecessary provocation of world-neighbors. I believe that their continued use is a deliberate ruse that prolongs the terms of vested-interest groups who wish to hide in an anonymous role behind puppet-diplomacy. We can short-circuit their plans by exposing their tactics on the blogging world-stage and force them to confront us on our terms. Diplomacy must include more than the selfish ambitions of a few players who seek to turn the world into private divide-and-conquer fiefdoms! Join me in refusing to accept anything but the very best diplomatic solutions for our planet!

Mark Overt Skilbred