U.S. Enters Third World

The wit and intelligence of Rosa Brooks shines through in this op-ed piece titled: "Hey U.S., welcome to the Third World!"

It starts this way:

Dear United States, Welcome to the Third World!

It's not every day that a superpower makes a bid to transform itself into a Third World nation, and we here at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund want to be among the first to welcome you to the community of states in desperate need of international economic assistance. As you spiral into a catastrophic financial meltdown, we are delighted to respond to your Treasury Department's request that we undertake a joint stability assessment of your financial sector. In these turbulent times, we can provide services ranging from subsidized loans to expert advisors willing to perform an emergency overhaul of your entire government.

Let's hope it's not too late and Washington wakes the hell up!