I mean, GP said America was becoming a third world country. If you look at the list, it's pretty clear that second world (former Soviet) countries generally have higher social mobility than third world countries but still lesser than the United States. I wasn't trying to spin a near win - just objecting to hyperbole.
I don't think "second world" is really used and saying "former soviet" nations means nothing. In the 30 years since that change, nations have developed so differently that it doesn't add much to group them together.
That said, I see your point. Please note that I said America is "becoming" a third world country and did not say "already is".
The (or a) point, I think, of bringing up "second world" is that if you use the term "third world", one is essentially importing that context. If you don't like "second world" you shouldn't use "third world".
In denigrating the US, "developing world/country" is not going to work because it isn't pejorative enough. But "third world" is outdated.
